mi 


ii 


JJJJP               LIBRARY 

OP  THK 

University  of  California. 

Mrs.  SARAH  P.  WALSWORTH. 

Received  October,  i8q4. 
^Accessions  No.                  .      Class  No. 

wmW^^^:' 


COURSE 


OF 


ENGLISH  EEADING, 


ADAPTED   TO 


EVERY  TASTE  AND  CAPACITY: 


ANECDOTES  OE  MEN  OF  GENIUS. 


BY 


THE  REV.  JAMES  PYCROFT,  B.  A. 

TRINITY     COLLEGE,     OXFORD. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CAREY  &  HART,  126  CHESNUT  STREET. 

1845. 


-J 


^\^\ 


STERLlJTVrED    HY    1..   JOHNSllN. 
PRINTED     BV    T.    K     &    P.    G.    COLLINS,    I>!1  ILA  Dll.r  I!  1/ 


PREFACE. 


Miss  Jane  C.  divided  her  indoor  hours  into  three  parts :  the  housekeeping  and 
dinner-ordering  cares  of  life  claimed  one  part ;  hearing  two  younger  sisters  say  their 
lessons  a  second  part;  and  during  the  third  and  most  delightful  remainder  she  would 
lock  herself  up  in  Ker  bedroom,  and  move  on  the  marker  of  Russell's  "Modern 
Europe"  at  the  rate  of  never  less  than  fifteen  pages  an  hour,  and  sometimes  more. 

Being  so  vexatious  as  to  ask  wherein  her  satisfaction  consisted,  I  was  told — in  the 
thought  that  she  did  her  duty;  that  she  kept  her  resolution,  and  exercised  self- 
denial  ;  that  she  read  as  much  as  the  best  educated  of  her  friends ;  that  continually 
fewer  histories  remained  to  read ;  that  labour  sweetened  leisure,  and  that  she  hoped 
one  day  to  excel  in  literature. 

A  few  torturing  questions  elicited  that  all  the  labour,  all  the  self-denial,  and  all 
the  resolution  aforesaid,  had  not  produced  any  sensible  increase,  or  more  than  a 
vague  but  anxious  expectation,  of  available  information,  love  of  study,  confidence 
in  society,  or  mental  improvement.  In  short,  my  very  deserving  friend  was  all  but 
convinced  that  there  was  some  truth  in  the  everlasting  annoying  remark  of  a  certain 
jealous  and  idle  companion,  that  she  was  "  stupefying  her  brains  for  no  good." 

A  few  days  after  I  received  a  letter,  from  which  I  extract  the  following : — 

"  I'll  tell  you  what : — I  will  never  forgive  your  vexatious  sifting  of  my  ways  and 
means  of  reading,  if  you  do  not  sit  down  and  write  me  a  list  of  books  which  mill 
do  me  good ;  and  such  plans  and  contrivances  of  study  as  may  enable  me  to 
improve  as  fast  as  you  say  that  my  incessant  toil  and  trouble  deserve.  Now, 
mind — I'll  follow  your  plan  to  the  letter,  and  if  it  does  not  succeed,  the  fault  must 
be  yours." 

In  reply,  I  gave  half  an  hour's  instructions,  which  led  to  such  an  increase  in  the 
knowledge,  the  entertainment,  the  habits  of  reflection,  and  sense  of  improvement  of 
my  pupil,  that,  after  modifying  the  same  instructions  to  suit  the  taste  and  capacity  of 
other  literary  young  ladies  and  literary  young  gentlemen,  and  after  putting  their 
value  repeatedly  to  the  test,  I  venture  to  publish  them  in  the  following  pages. 

J.  P. 

Bath,  May  15,  1844. 


SUMMAKY  OF  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


Haw  to  study 

HISTORY  generally,  21. 

of  Britain  generally,  22.    An  outline  of  the  whole,  and  particular  instructions  for  making  our 
fort,  or  strong  point,  one  of  six  memorable  eras ;  viz. 

1.  Till  the  Conquest. 

2.  Middle  ages — -feudal  system — chivalry — crusades. 

3.  Commencement  of  Modem  History,  as  marked  by  printing, — gunpowder, — the 

compass, — discovery  of  America, — Colonial  System, — Reformation. 

4.  The  Civil  Wars. 

5.  The  Revolution  of  1688. 

6.  From  George  III.  to  the  present  time,!]"-  V^"^  ^®^5  H5®  French  Revolution, 

with  special  instructions  for  studying;")  ^-  To  the  end  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 

of  Modern  Europe  generally,  27.    Particu^^r  instructions  for  making  our  fort  ox  strong  point, 
one  of  seven  eras ;  viz. 

1 .  The  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire. 

2.  The  Revival  of  Learning. 

3.  The  Religious  Wars  in  the  Low  Countries. 

4.  The  Thirty  Years'  War. 

5.  The  French  Revolution. 

6.  History  of  America  and  the  West. 

7.  British  India  and  other  Colonies. 

of  Rome,  advice  addressed  to  youths  while  yet  at  school ;  or 

to  candidates  for  scholarships,  31,  37. 

to  candidates  for  University  honours  and  Fellowships,  32,  37. 
to  ladies  andgeneral  readers,  32,  37. 
light  and  entertaining  study  of,  33. 
of  Greece,  advice  addressed  to  youths  reading  for  scholarships,  33,  37. 

to  candidates  for  University  honours  and  Fellowships,  34,  37. 
to  ladies  and  general  readers,  36,  37. 
light  and  entertaining  study  of,  37. 

of  Man,  40. 

The  Wonders  of  Creation  and  Natural  Phenomena,  42. 

The  Arts,  Sciences,  Literature,  and  comparative  superiority  of  different  Nations,  42. 

Notice  of  most  interesting  and  exciting  Narratives  of  Land  and  Sea,  43. 

The  Manners  and  Customs,  and  the  general  state  of  different  Nations,  43. 

The  Politics,  Institutions,  and  Economy  of  Nations,  43. 

The  Ruins  of  Ancient  Cities  and  Antiquities,  43. 

Works,  entertaining  and  illustrative  of  Classical  and  Sacred  Literature,  44. 

Preparatory  to  a  Tour  in  Britain,  or  on  the  Continent,  44. 

Most  pleasantly  and  profitably,  by  illustrated  books,  44,  45. 

PHILOSOPHY,  Moral,  Political,  Mental,— Metaphysics, — Grammar,  Logic,  Rhetoric,  Phrenology, 
Physiology,  45,  48. 

THE  FINE  ARTS,  by  a  method  very  easy  and  entertaining,  48,  51. 

Painting, — Elements  of  Criticism,  History  of  Art,  &c.  48. 
Sculpture, 50. 
Architecture,  51. 

THE  SCRIPTURES,  in  six  Divisions,  viz. 

1.  The  Text, — the  Word,  (comparing  passages, — interesting  illustration, — rei)eating, 

— writing  proofs, — Scriptural  common-place  book.) 

2.  Commentaries  and  Notes. 

3.  Biblical  Antiquities, — Jewish  History, — Translations. 

4.  Doctrines,— Articles,— the  Prayer  Book,— Books  for  Controversialists,— Defence 

of  the  Church. 

5.  The  principal  Writers  in  order : 

ri.  The  Fathers. 
2.  The  Schoolmen, 
o  vj-  ••  r  *u        -3.  The  Reformers. 

Subdivisions  of  the  prm- J  4   -pj^g  successors  of  the  Reformers. 


cipal  Writers. 


5.  The  Non-conformists. 

6.  The  Divines  of  the  Restoration  and  Revolution. 

7.  Modern  Writers. 


6.  Practical  Books,  for  the  Closet. 

POETRY, — Criticism, — Taste,  57,  58. 

NATURAL  PHILOSOPHY  in  all  its  Branches, — Notice  of  simple  Treatises,  58. 

How  to  rememher  what  ive  read, — Rules  simple  and  practicable,  39. 
How  to  keep  a  Common-jylace  Book,  59. 


A  COURSE 


ENGLISH  READING. 


All  the  world  would  allow  that  a  traveller  would 
pass  more  easily  from  any  one  point  to  any  other 
point  by  having  a  distinct  picture  of  the  road  before 
he  started.  All  the  world  would  approve  of  a  tra- 
veller's stopping  once  or  twice  in  his  journey,  and 
asking  himself,  "  To  what  place  am  I  going?"  and 
"  Is  this  the  best  way  to  reach  it  ?"  But  how  many 
myriads  in  this  world  aforesaid  do  set  out  on  the  long 
and  intricate  road  of  life  without  a  map,  and,  while 
they  can  only  keep  moving,  never  stop  to  ask  whe- 
ther they  are  in  their  latitude  or  out  of  it.  So  blindly 
do  men  run  after  all  the  imaginary  prizes  of  life,  and 
just  as  blindly  do  they  pursue  any  one  of  them.  Con- 
sider intellectual  pursuits.  Many  young  persons  have 
said  to  me,  "I  should  so  like  to  possess  general  in- 
formation, and  to  be  well  read,  like  our  very  amusing 
friend.  Is  it  not  strange  that,  amidst  all  the  toils  of 
a  most  engrossing  protession,  he  can  find  time  to  ac- 
quire so  much  knowledge  on  every  subject?" 

"  Not  at  all ;  a  few  minutes  a  day,  well  employed, 
will  be  quite  enough." 

"Really  I  do  not  find  it  so.  What  I  read  very 
rarely  interests  me  ;  so  I  forget  nearly  as  fast  as  I 
read,  and  grow  more  and  more  confused." 

"  Too  little  interest,  and  too  much  confusion !  Real- 
ly you  have  enough  to  complain  of.  Do  you  know 
that  this  may  constitute  all  the  diiference  between, 
your  acquirements  and  those  of  our  friend  ?" 

"  But  he  is  so  clever." 

"Can  he  do  as  much  in  one  hour  as  you  can  in 
six?" 

"No  I  I  am  sure  he  cannot.  I  see  your  argument. 
I  know  you  are  going  to  remind  me  I  have  more  than 
six  times  the  number  of  hours  to  study." 

"  Is  there  no  one  subject  on  which  you  feel  your- 
self equal  to  him  ?  Think  of  gardening,  drawing, 
scriptural  reading,"  &c. 

"  True,  but  I  am  so  fond  of  the  subjects ;  for •" 

"  You  would  say  your  attention  never  flags,  and 
your  memory  never  fails." 

"Just  so.  But  I  am  not  so  fond  of  some  other 
subjects,  which  still  I  very  much  wish  to  know." 

"  But  do  you  not  remember  a  time  when  you  were 
not  ao  fond  even  of  these  favourite  subjects  ?" 

"  Certainly  ;  you  would  infer  therefore " 

"I  would  infer  what  I  positively  have  experienced 
}>oth  in  myself  and  others,  that  we  may  acquire  a  fond- 
ness and  interest  for  study,  and  that  under  good  guid- 
ance it  is  hardly  ever  loo  late  to  begin." 

"  And  the  advice  you  intend  to  give  me  is  founded 
on " 

"Is  founded  on  certain  simple  and  self-evident 
means  of  creating  an  interest  in  all  we  read,  and  thus 
insuring  attention,  and  consequently  memory.  Sup- 
pose you  wished  to  nourish  a  man's  body,  you  would 
say,  '  Feed  him.'  '  But  he  does  not  digest.'  '  Pro- 
bably he  has  no  appetite  ?'  '  Yes  ;  he  will  eat  some 
few  things.'  '  Then  choose  these  few  ;  attend  to  his 
appetite,  and  by  that  judge  when  and  what  he  can 
digest.'     So  with  the  mind ;  attend  to  the  curiosity, 


which  is  the  appetite  of  the  mind,  and  be  sure  that 
whatever  the  mind  receives  with  avidity  will  tend  to 
its  maturity  and  strength." 

In  this  way  I  have  reasoned  with  many  of  my 
friends :  I  have  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  my  ad- 
vice followed,  and  attended  with  more  success  than  I 
ever  anticipated.  One  pupil  in  particular  is  now  pre- 
sent to  my  mind,  and  that  a  lady — a  circumstance 
most  encouraging  to  all  who  distrust  their  own  abili- 
ties— and  it  is  her  e.xperience  especially  which  induces 
me  to  think  that  the  same  advice  may  be  generally 
useful.  My  prescriptions,  I  trust,  are  not  like  the 
panacea  of  the  day,  the  same  for  all  patients  in  all 
stages ;  but  such  as,  being  based  on  the  same  prin- 
ciples of  mental  health,  are  nicely  inodified  to  suit 
every  age  and  constitution.  If  my  rules  seem  ob- 
vious, and  what  all  well-educated  persons  may  be 
presumed  to  know,  I  answer,  Do  we  not  often  hear 
readers  say,  I  hke  a  book  that  begins  at  the  beginning 
of  a  subject — that  presumes  not  that  I  have  know- 
ledge, but  that  I  am  generally  ignorant  ?  Have  the 
best  informed  never  searched  for  information,  though 
with  affected  indifference — they  would  not,  on  any  ac- 
count, be  seen  to  do  so — even  in  a  child's  story-book, 
or  penny  catechism  ?  Hesiod,  as  quoted  by  Aristotle, 
divides  the  world  into  three  classes :— the  first  have 
sense  of  their  own ;  the  second  use  the  sense  of  their 
neighbours ;  the  third  do  neither  one  nor  the  other. 
Now  all  the  advice  I  have  to  offer  is  addressed  to  the 
second  class,  with  a  slight  hope  and  a  sincere  desire 
to  make  converts  of  the  third.  As  to  arrangement, 
I  will  not  promise  to  be  very  exact.  As  a  traveller 
in  the  boundless  fields  of  literature,  I  shall  take  the 
privilege  of  describing  fair  flowers  and  curiosities  as 
they  occurred  to  me,  and  to  quote  the  very  words  of 
many  fellow-travellers,  some  pointing  out  my  way,  and 
some  asking  theirs.  Full  well  I  know  that  a  man 
who  will  stand  forth  like  a  witness  in  a  court  of  justice, 
and  say  not  what  he  thinks,  but  what  he  knows  and 
has  seen,  and  sometimes  what  effect  these  occurrences 
produced  upon  his  mind,  may  find  his  humble  testi- 
mony decide  knotty  questions  and  promote  high  pur- 
poses he  knew  not  of.  Thus,  by  truth  copieH  from 
the  plain  tablets  of  memory,  do  I  resolve  to  try  so  to 
lay  down  the  law  that  each  may  find  his  ovvn  case, 
and  to  hold  up  a  mirror  in  which  every  man  may  see 
himself. 

The  first  case  that  occurs  to  me — the  case  of  nearly 
.ill  who  have  the  ambition,  but  not  the  method,  to  be 
literary  characters — is  the  following : — A  young  lady 
of  great  intelligence  asked,  "What  would  you  re- 
commend me  to  read?" 

"That  depends  on  what  you  have  been  reading 
lately— the  new  matter  must  assimilate  with  the  old, 
or  it  will  not  digest." 

"  Well,  then,  I  have  read  nearly  all  Hume  and 
Smollett,  and  I  want  to  know  some  more  of  the  his- 
tory of  England,  and  the  continental  nations  too— 
shall  I  read  Russell's  Modern  Europe  ?" 

"Excuse  me  for  saying  you  have  rather  a  large 
a2  5 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


ground-plan  for  your  hietorical  edifice.  Will  you  be 
able  to  build  up  in  proportion  ?  Remember  the 
Tower  of  Babel  and  the  confusion  of  tongiies.  A 
dozen  and  a  half  of  thick  volumes!  Can  you  re- 
member all  this  ?" 

"  Oh  no.  The  worst  of  it  is  I  cannot  remember  even 
common  facts,  succession  of  kings,  wars  and  peace, 
and  the  like,  which  even  children  know  from  their 
little  books.  I  was  so  long  over  Hume,  that  I  forgot 
the  first  part  before  I  had  read  the  last." 

"And  if  you  had  only  read  the  child's  history 
through  twice,  you  would  possess  more  real  know- 
ledge at  the  present  moment." 

This  was  allowed :  my  pupil  also  agreed  that  Hume 
dwelt  too  long  on  some  topics  in  which  she  felt  no  in- 
terest, and  loo  little  on  others ;  that  with  all  long 
histories  it  was  difHcult  to  grasp  the  outline  of  events 
so  comprehensively  as  to  enjoy  the  advantage  of  com- 
paring one  period  with  another,  and  that  in  proportion 
as  these  defects  caused  her  interest  to  be  less,  it  re- 
quired her  perseverance  to  be  greater.  An  admission 
■which  called  to  mind  the  expression  of  another  litera- 
ry pilgrim,  who  exclaimed  from  the  very  slough  of 
despair,  "What  am  I  to  try  next — I  have  w-aded 
through  two  volumes  of  Russell,  and  am  heartily  tired 
by  a  third?" 

I  now  took  a  sheet  of  paper  and  drew  what  was 
intended  for  an  historical  tree.  The  trunk  bore  in 
straggling  capitals  the  words  Hume  and  Smollett ; 
and  in  smaller  letters  the  names  of  the  sovereigns, 
each  of  whom  was  allowed  a  space  commensurate 
with  hisreign.  "Here,"  I  said,  "  you  have  one  con- 
tinuous history,  as  it  were,  the  stem  and  prop,  or  the 
connected  chain  of  your  knowledge : — a  less  sub- 
stantial supporter  than  Himie  would  do  as  well  at 
present,  because  you  seem  to  have  forgotten  (which  is 
about  the  same  thing  as  never  having  read)  his  His- 
tory. I  wish  you  to  have  a  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  this  whole  chain,  so  take  the  History  of  England' 
by  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge, 
one  small  duodecimo  of  140  pages,  price  Is.  "id.  This 
you  may  know  thoroughly  in  four  or  five  days;  and 
afterwards  keep  it  in  mind  by  writing  out  the  answers 
of  the  questions  given  at  the  end.  In  this  way  your 
chain  of  history  will  be  connected,  and  you  may  learn 
to  run  over  in  your  mind  all  the  events  from  Queen 
Boadicea  to  Queen  Victoria  without  the  book ;  at  least 
I  have  known  children  of  ten  years  of  age  do  so." 

"  Then  what  shall  I  do  with  Hume  ?" 

"I'll  tell  you:  Hume's  history  will  strengthen 
particular  parts  of  this  fine  chain  1  have  mentioned, 
and  make  the  imaginary  trunk  the  thicker  and  better 
able  to  bear  leaves  and  support  the  weight  of  branches. 
Yon  will  guess  that  by  the  leaves  and  offshoots  I 
mean  biographies  and  other  works  read  in  connection  ; 
the  desire  for  which  will  be  excited  by  this  chain  of 
reading,  or  grow  out  of  the  tree  of  history." 

"  But  how  am  I  to  do  this,  and  with  amusement 
too;  for  you  promised  it  should  be  amusing,  and  with 
lees  bootless  labour  than  I  have  been  enduring  hither- 
to, for  my  studies  have  been  literally  '  bubble,  bubble, 
toil  and  trouble  ?'  " 

"  Tell  me,  first,  what  desire  or  curiosity  has  grown 
out  of  your  chain  of  reading?" 

"  Why,  I  have  a  curiosity  to  know  more  of  Ridley, 
Cranmer,  and  those  glorious  martyrs." 

"  First  cast  your  eye  over  the  three  or  four  pages 
of  Mary's  reign  in  the  little  history,  you  will  then 
have  a  vivid  recollection  of  their  times ;  and  then  read 
a  separate  account  of  these  champions  of  Christen- 
dom in  some  other  books." 

"  Just  so  ;  but  then  must  I  go  through  four  or  five 
volumes  of  the  Reformation  ?" 

"  There  is  no  kind  of  necessity  ;  continue  to  read 
about  the    martyrs   as  long  as  your  curiosity  lasts. 


'  Outlines  of  the  History  of  England,  price 
25  cents,  republished  by  Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia, 
who  now  renublish  the  entire  series  of  School  Books 
printed  in  England  by  the  Society  for  the  Diflriasion 
of  Christian  Knowledge. 


You  may  find  a  short  mention  of  them  in  a  Cyclo- 
paedia or  Biographical  Dictionary  ;2  or  you  may  turn 
to  a  full  and  graphic  account  in  Southey's  Book  of  the 
Church,  by  help  of  the  Index.  See,  I  keep  my  pro- 
mise ;  when  '  toil  and  trouble  begins  or  interest  ends,' 
I  say,  stop  and  read  something  else." 

My  friend  was  laudably  solicitous  as  to  whether  all 
this  was  sound  advice  :  she  thought  "  that  where  there 
was  no  pain,  there  would  be  no  cure;"  so  besides 
urging  my  own  experience,  I  sought  and  found  au- 
thority, and  that,  by  the  way,  in  a  book  in  which  au- 
thority may  be  found  on  subjects  almost  as  multifa- 
rious as  we  would  expect  in  a  famous  book  purporting 
to  treat  De  quolibet  ente  et  multis  aliis  rebus ;  "  about 
every  thing  in  the  world,  and  many  other  things 
besides." 

Dr.  Johnson  said  that  for  general  improvement  a 
man  should  read  whatever  his  immediate  inclination 
prompted  him  to  take  up:  he  added,  "  What  we  read 
with  inclination  makes  a  much  stronger  impression. 
If  we  read  without  inclination,  half  the  mind  is  em- 
ployed in  fixing  the  attention,  so  there  is  but  one  half 
to  be  employed  on  what  we  read;"^  and  this  the 
Doctor  said  when  sixty-seven  years  had  rolled  over 
his  sober  head. 

This  was  a  case  in  point ;  hut  I  soon  found  one 
bearing  still  more  forcibly  on  my  argument.  "Idle- 
ness is  a  disease  which  must  be  combated ;  but  I 
would  not  advise  a  rigid  adherence  to  a  particular 
plan  of  study."  My  plan  requires  no  rigid  adherence, 
but  allows  full  latitude,  as  the  Doctor  goes  on  to  re- 
quire. "  r,  myself,  have  never  persisted  in  any  plan 
for  two  days  together.  A  man  ought  to  read  just  as 
inclination  leads  him,  for  what  he  reads  as  a  task  will 
do  him  little  good." — Vol.  ii.  p.  213. 

My  advice  will  not,  I  trust,  be  found  at  variance 
with  that  of  the  Doctor:  I  would  give  to  power  all 
the  direction  of  method  without  cramping  the  strong 
spring  of  inclination.  Where  two  books,  or  two 
courses  of  reading,  are  equally  amusing,  there  is  no 
hardship  in  being  ordered  to  choose  the  one  which  is 
the  more  improving. 

This  advice  was  followed.  A  few  evenings  after, 
I  found  my  pupil  had  read  with  the  sharp  edge  of 
curiosity,  and  so,  of  course,  had  digested  lives  of 
Ridley  and  Cranmer,  and,  which  I  anticipated,  had 
become  curious  still  further  about  Henry  VIII.,  Ed- 
ward VI.,  and  Mary.  "  What !"  Isaid;  "howcame 
these  characters  to  interest  you  more  to-day  than 
when  you  read  of  them  in  Hume?"  "Because," 
was  the  natural  reply,  "  the  association  was  different. 
I  care  more  about  those  who  fought  or  befriended  the 
pope,  than  about  men  who  lost  heads  or  won  crowns, 
to  say  nothing  of  long  chapters  about  primogeniture, 
in  which,  by  the  way,  our  friend  is  so  accurate  ;  but 
I  understand  it  is  only  from  association  with  his  law 
books."  It  was  now  seen  what  I  meant,  that  every 
person  has  a  kind  of  peculiar  curiosity,  on  attention  to 
the  dictates  of  which  his  memory  and  improvement 
depend. 

This  curiosity  is  an  appetite  which  "grows  by 
what  it  feeds  on."  Let  me  relate  another  passage 
from  my  perceptorial  diary  : — "  A  most  wonderfully 
retentive  memory  has  that  Captain  Evans  we  met 
yesterday  :  he  talks  on  every  subject ;  I  only  wonder 
that  Mr.  Wood,  when  here  on  his  circuit,  did  not 
seem  to  think  more  of  him."  "  I  should  wonder  more 
if  he  did  ;  the  captain  talks  for  effect :  he  has  more 
vanity  than  love  of  literature:  you  would  lake  Mr. 
Wood's  opinion  of  him  ;"  and  he  remarked  what  a 
bore  the  man  was ;  that  he  went  away  like  a  steam- 
engine  in  his  own  line,  but  cloerged  the  moment  he 
got  off"  of  it ;  pursued  no  game  but  what  he  himself 
had  started,  and  conld  fight  but  badly  on  his  o\yn 
ground,  and  was  no  match  for  the  poorest  antagonist 
on  any  other.  Strangely  enough,  there  was  another 
person  in  the  same  company,  of  known  depth  and 


2  Encyclopedia  Americana,  edited  by  Dr.  Leiber, 
in  13  volumes,  Svo.   Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 
sBoswell,  vol.  vi.  p.  163. 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


research,  who  heard  this  "captain  bold"  without 
taking  the  trouble  to  correct  his  facta,  or  question  his 
conclusions;  and  who  also  observed  the  next  day  he 
"only  wished  men  would  not  worry  their  friends  in 
the  evening  with  what  they  had  read  without  under- 
standing the  very  same  morning."  How  true  is  the 
observation  that  men  who  have  not  studied  some  one 
subject  as  a  profession,  or  with  as  much  assiduity  and 
thought  as  a  profession  requires,  having  no  standard 
of  accuracy,  can  rarely  trust  themselves  to  speak  be- 
fore sound  men  on  any  single  topic.  Lies,  whether 
expressed  or  implied,  (and  what  is  affectation  but  lies  in 
a  state  of  solution,)  always  discourage  truth,  and  the 
humble  endeavours  of  simple  honesty:  and  so  in  the 
present  instance ;  a  5'outh  honourably  desirous  of 
improvement  was  almost  persuaded  by  the  empty 
pretensions  of  a  shallow  reader  of  what  is  most  aptly 
called  the  light  literature  of  the  day,  to  wit,  not 
weighty  enough  to  survive  till  the  morrow,  that  the 
knowledge  worthy  of  a  proper  man  is  beyond  ordi- 
nary ability  to  attain. 

Let  a  vain,  chattering  character  read  the  latest  ar- 
ticle in  the  "  United  Service  Magazine,"  talk  at  "the 
reading-room  door  on  the  contents  with  some  of  those 
party  gentlemen  who  are  to  be  seen  in  every  town 
like  China  jars,  or  male  Caryatides,  daily  fixtures, 
for  fear  any  stranger  should  want  a  clue  to  the  fashion- 
able library  ;  and  with  the  sum-total  of  remarks  and 
illustrations  so  collected  ;  let  him  talk  loud  and  long  lo 
the  next  company  he  meets,  and  he  will  be  regarded 
as  the  man  of  general  information.  The  ignorant  do 
Tjot  discover  the  cheat,  and  the  wise  despise  too  much 
to  expose  it,  or  should  they  venture  to  qualify  the 
general  praise,  they  are  called  jealous,  and  pass  un- 
regarded. 

"  Well,"  said  my  young  friend,  "all  I  know  is,  I 
should  have  felt  more  comfortable  had  I  known  more 
of  the  subject  he  was  discussing.  'J'he  last  Vi^ar — Na- 
poleon—Nelson— and  the  Duke,  are  matters  about 
which  I  have  a  very  confused  and  shallow  stock  of 
information.  How  should  I  proceed? — '  Gurwood's 
Despatches,'  Alison,  volumes  of  Southey  on  the 
Peninsula,  and  others  on  the  Revolution,  will  take 
me  so  long,  I  shall  starve  for  want  of  knowledge  be- 
fore I  gain  it  at  this  slow  rate." 

He  was  soon  made  to  understand  that  these  were 
not  the  books  to  begin  with,  and  M'as  warned  with  the 
mention  of  Robinson  Crusoe's  boat,  too  big  to  launch, 
and  his  first  plan  of  a  goat-pen,  two  miles  round, 
which  would  have  given  him  as  little  property  in  his 
flock  as  if  he  had  no  pen  at  all.  My  friend  saw  that 
long  historical  works,  and  most  others,  consist  of  two 
parts : — 

First,  facts. 

Secondly,  observations  on  facts. 

As  to  the  facts,  he  did  not  want  to  know  thorough- 
ly all  the  minutias  mentioned  in  the  books  above  men- 
tioned— a  perfect  knowledge  of  a  very  small  portion 
would  satisfy  him  for  the  present ;  undoubtedly :  nay 
more,  a  small  collection  would  serve  as  standards 
round  which  other  ideas  might  rally,  as  fixed  points, 
for  association,  in  aid  of  memory,  and  as  links,  how- 
ever coarse,  to  make  the  chain  complete,  without  a 
break,  till  time  were  allowed  to  substitute  hnks 
stronger  and  more  minute.  This  youth  had  also  the 
confidence  to  allow  that,  by  comparison  of  facts,  he 
might  discern  what  were  effects  and  what  causes,  and 
so  have  a  home  supply  of  observations  ;  for  the  larger 
stock  of  ideas  we  import  the  less  we  grow,  and  the 
more  minds  fall  out  of  cultivation.  I  encouraged  him 
with  the  prospect  of  becoming  in  course  of  time  almost 
exclusively  his  own  grower  and  consumer  as  to  ob- 
servations :  and  when  books  are  to  be  read  for  culling 
facts  alone,  and  most  observations  passed  by  as  being 
already  known,  he  saw  that  cumbrous  volumes  would 
in  effect  be  considerably  reduced  in  size,  and  asked, 
"Is  this  the  reason  I  see  you  with  a  book  on  your 
favourite  subject,  turning  over  the  leaves  without 
seeming  to  read  five  lines  out  of  a  page  ?"  "  Yes, 
frequently  five  lines  are  enough  to  show  what  the 
author  is  going  to  observe,  and  by  degrees  we  obtain 


the  same  facility  in  reading  facts  as  observalionK. 
Did  you  not  see  mo  the  other  day  pa.-is  over  nearly  a 
whole  chapter  of  travels  in  llussiii?  The  reason  wat; 
thai  the  table  of  contents  showed  me  that  it  contained 
substantially  the  same  matter  as  ti  voliune  I  had  jus: 
before  read  on  the  same  subject."  However,  let  no 
readers  be  encouraged  by  those  observations  to  fall 
into  a  careless  and  desultory  habit  of  study.  I  allow 
ihem  to  miss  what  they  already  know:  1  do  not  say 
what  they  have  already  read.  Accurate  reading  and 
reflection  are  their  own  reward,  hy  saving  time  and 
trouble  in  the  end.  Sheridan  truly  remarked,  "In- 
stead of  always  reading,  think,  think,  on  every  sub- 
ject :  there  are  only  a  few  leading  ideas,  and  these 
we  may  excogitate  for  ourselves.' '  While  others  talk 
of  so  many  hours  of  study  daily,  and  so  many  books 
read,  those  who  really  improve  think  of  questions 
solved  and  clear  knowledge  attained  of  definite  sub- 
jects. "  So,  my  friend,"  I  continued,  "to  gain  con- 
fidence in  speaking  of  Napoleon  and  his  contempora- 
ries, take  first  of  all  a  book  of  facts  ;  do  as  I  did  some 
years  since,  in  idle  time,  by  the  sea-side: — I  took 
Miller's  History  of  George  III.,'  one  double-columned 
volume  of  400  pages ;  giving  something  like  an  epi- 
tome of  the  newspapers,  from  1760  to  1820,  and 
bearing  on  each  page,  in  two  or  three  places,  lines  in 
capitals,  drawing  attention  to  the  respective  topics, 
as  in  pages  332  and  333 ;  Advance  of  the  British  into 
Spain,  under  Sir  John  Moore  ;  again,  Sir  J.  Moore's 
Retreat;  again.  Battle  of  Corunna,  and  Death  ci 
Moore.'-' 

I  commenced  at  p.  207,  which  gave  the  history  of 
the  end  of  the  year  1789 :  I  wrote  on  the  top  of  every 
page  "  .v.  D.  17 — ,  or  a.  d.  18 — ,"  and  in  this  manner 
my  book  became  a  ready  book  of  reference  for  any 
newspaper  allusion  to  the  days  of  our  lathers.  A  few 
days'  rending  took  mo  through  the  200  pages  which 
gave  the  history  from  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution 
to  the  death  ot  George  III.  Still  1  intended  to  read 
the  saine  two  or  three  times  more.  I  was  in  haste  to 
complete,  as  I  say,  my  chain  in  a  fair,  substantial  way 
first,  and  strengthen  it  afterward''.  I  did  not  read 
from  end  to  end;  but  when  tired,  I  used  to  dip  into 
interesting  parts,  such  as  victories  and  state  trials  ; 
so  this  history  suited  me  in  all  humours,  whether  as 
a  novel  or  work  of  memory.  It  would  puzzle  any 
one  to  guess  what  parts  made  m.ost  impression  on  my 
memory:  they  were  not  "  t!;e  moving  incidents  b\ 
flood  and  field,"  but  facts  which  others  might  have 
overlooked,  and  so  should  I,  only  they  happened  at 
different  times  to  have  formed  the  subject  of  conver- 
sation in  my  presence,  and  thus  became  matters  ol 
special  interest  to  me.  Remember  there  is  a  maxim 
artiong  lawyers,  that  private  reading  makes  little  im- 
pression till  legal  practice  shows  its  use,  and  fixes 
attention  to  important  points.  Daily  intercourse  with 
men  and  books  serves  the  general  reader  as  practice 
serves  the  lawyer;  by  fixing  attention,  it  insures  me- 
mory. Nor  is  this  the  only  point  of  comparison.  Do 
you  think  any  lawyer's  knowledge  can  comprehend 
all  the  ponderous  volumes  in  Lincoln's  Inn  library, 
and  these,  to  the  uninitiate9>  seem  equally  deserving 
of  study?  Certainly  not.  Then  how  do  they  know 
which  to  choose  as  most  useful  for  preparing  to  meet 
and  answer  all  cases  that  occur  ?  Practice  shows  the 
nature  of  the  general  demand,  and  this,  almost  exclu- 
sively, they  prepare  to  supply.  So  the  general  reader, 
like  the  lawyer,  must  study  to  be  strong  on  those 
points  on  which  not  only  his  own  consciousness  but 
the  strength  of  those  he  encounters  shows  his  weak- 
ness. This  leads  me  to  remark  why  the  same  book 
may  be  read  again  and  again  with  continually  in- 
creasing interest  and  profit,  because  the  interval  be- 
tween each  reading  will  call  attention  to  a  new  order 
of  facts,  and  elicit  a  new  series  of  conclusions.  All 
this  I  draw  faithfully  from  the  history  of  the  progress 
of  my  own  mind. 


'  Miller's  History  of  George  III.,  published 
together  with  Hume  and  Smollett  in  4  large  vols.  8vo., 
by  Thomas,  Cowperthwait  &  Co.,  Philsuielphia.         '» 


8 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


"And  how  did  you  proceed  -wlien  you  liad  read 
this  part  of  history  once  ?" 

"I  had  a  friend  who  was  fond  of  discussing  the 
same  subject ;  one  who  had  long  Uved  by  the  sea, 
conversed  with  naval  officers,  listened  with  me  to 
many  an  hour's  yarn  from  an  old  I'rafalgar  man, 
while  cruising  in  the  Ivose  yacht  off  Tenby  and 
Caldy,  and  had  often  surprised  me  with  the  apparent 
extent  of  his  knowledge.  His  conversation  added  to 
my  interest,  and  made  my  reading  more  profitable. 
I  then  read  Southey's  Life  of  Nelsori,  and  the  Life 
of  Napoleon,  2  vols.,  in  the  Family  Library.'  These 
hooks  are  quite  easy  reading,  except  allusions  to  the 
iiistory  of  the  times,  a  knowledge  of  which  is  alvva5's 
indispensable  to  one  who  would  read  for  real  im- 
provement ;  and  this  knowledge,  I  would  add,  makes 
the  sound  and  accurate  man,  and  distinguishes  our 
well-read  friend  from  the  loquacious  captain.  On  so 
good  an  opportunity  let  me  add  a  word  of  caution.  I 
have  suggested  sometimes  '  to  read  and  skip,'  but  to 
skip  only  the  known,  not  the  unknown.  These  his- 
torical allusions  I  readily  found  out,  by  looking  over 
the  occurrences  of  the  same  year  in  my  history. 
Thus,  while  the  history  explained  the  biography,  the 
biography  drew  attention  to  the  history.  True  it  is 
that  all  readers  may  occasionally  be  at  a  loss  for  an 
aUusion;  if  they  do  their  best  to  explain  it,  this  is 
immaterial ;  but  those  literary  epicures  who  touch 
nothing  but  dainties,  and  pick  all  books  for  the  amus- 
ing, will  never  enjoy  a  sound  intellectual  constitution, 
but  will  acquire  an  unnatural  appetite,  no  longer  a 
criterion  of  their  ability  to  digest.  Once  form  a 
habit  of  humouring  yourself  with  reading  solely  and 
exclusively  what  pleases  at  the  moment,  once  blunt 
the  natural  sense  of  satisfaction,  which  to  the  sound 
mind  results  from  doing  things  thoroughly,  and  from 
that  moment  you  have  bartered  the  literary  resources 
'of  a  life  for  the  excitement  of  an  hour.  This  custom 
of  referring  to  explain  allusions,  need  not  check  the 
,  interest  of  your  subject.  I  often  mark  on  a  blank 
leaf  a  mark  of  interrogation,  and  against  this  set  the 
number  of  the  pages  containing  difficulties,  till  I  have 
finished  reading,  and  then  make  all  the  references  at 
once.  Even  if  you  should  not  succeed  in  your  search 
at  the  time,  this  practice  will  fix  the  difficulties  in 
j'our  memory  so  firmly  that  you  will  be  on  the  alert 
for  any  remark  in  your  subsequent  reading  that  can 
throw  light  upon  them.  And  what  was  the  result  of 
this  line  of  reading  ?  The  result  was,  that  my  friend 
was  more  surprised  at  the  accuracy  of  my  knowledge 
of  his  favourite  parts  of  modern  history,  than  I  had 
ever  been  of  his ;  and  even  touching  naval  history, 
he  could  tell  me  little  that  I  did  not  know.  Now, 
observe,  this  was  an  idle  man  who  had  nothing  to  do 
but  to  read  every  periodical  or  new  pubhcation  of 
interest;  he  had  read  dozens  of  volumes  on  the  topics 
on  which  I  had  read  but  three.  At  the  time  I  was  sur- 
prised ;  but  observation  has  since  made  me  fully  alive 
to  these  seeming  anomalies.  My  knowledge,  I  knew, 
was  shallow,  but  his  no  longer  seemed  deep.  This 
gave  me  confidence.  I  have  since  found  that  there 
are  very,  very  few  general  readers,  who  are  so  strong 
on  any  one  topic,  that  a  man  of  ordinary  abihty,  with 
method  in  his  application — a  method  which  in  these 
pages  I  hope  to  impart — may  not  greatly  surpass 
them  with  a  few  days  of  diligent  study." 

To  continue  my  method  with  history :  Miller's 
book  has  since  served  me  as  a  book  of  reference,  and 
stands  on  the  same  shelf  with  my  Biographical  and 
other  Dictionaries.  Its  use  is  to  show  at  one  view  a 
picture  of  those  by-gone  days  and  departed  heroes, 
of  whom  we  hear  old  gentlemen  talk,  when  they  are 
wicked  enough  to  perpetrate  a  little  conversational 
monopoly,  and  swell  with  a  very  innocent  kind  of 
self-importance,  as  they  tell  the  cold  perspiration  that 
came  over  their  patriotic  hrows  the  morning  they 
lieard  of  the  mutiny  in  the  fleet,  or  the  Bank  stopping 
payment ;  and  how  the}'  laughed  and  triumphed  in 


;     •  Southey's  Life  of  Nelson,  price  50  cents,  in 
,  Harper's  Family  Library. 


the  truth  of,  if  not  their  own,  at  least  some  near  re- 
lative's prognostication  that  Nelson  would  find  the 
foe  and  beat  him  too ;  how  melancholy  they  felt  as 
his  funeral  passed,  and  how  they  felt  for  the  honest 
tars  who  followed  in  the  mournful  throng.  To  all 
such  conversadon  listen,  by  all  means,  most  atten- 
tively; but  since  what  you  will  learn  from  it  is  often 
inaccurate,  and  always  unconnected,  instead  of  being 
satisfied  with  half  a  story,  go  at  once  to  the  book  to 
ascertain  time,  place,  and  cliaracters,  and  then  "give 
to  airy  nothing  a  local  habitation  and  a  name."  On 
this  principle,  in  reading  Ireland's  Seven  Years  of 
France,  from  1815 — 22, 1  cast  my  eye  over  the  pages 
of  Miller,  on  which  I  had  marked  the  corresponding 
seven  years :  I  did  the  same  before  reading  every  other 
book  relating  to  the  same  period.  But  I  shall  be  re- 
minded that  I  promised  to  make  my  course  amusing  ; 
and  most  amusing  was  the  method  I  am  relating  ;  for, 
in  course  of  time,  I  took  all  the  old  Reviews  and  Maga- 
zines, and  picked  only  such  articles  as  were  amusing  : 
but  at  that  time  the  sphere  of  my  amusement  was 
enlarged  ;  my  mind  was  stored  with  facts  on  which  I 
thirsted  for  more  minute  information  ;  and  since  all 
the  essays  I  so  read,  I  read  whh  an  appetite,  all  were 
readily  digested.  In  order  to  register  my  reading, 
and  preserve  order  in  my  studies,  I  used  to  mark  on 
the  margin  of  the  History  what  books  or  essays  gave 
exact  information  on  different  subjects,  vide  Southey, 
p. — ,  or  Gentleman's  Magazine,  No. — ;  or  read 
Mackintosh's  Observations  on  the  French  Revolu- 
tion,^  p.  — ;  Burke's  Opinion,  see  Life,  p.  — . 

The  time  at  which  reading  is  most  improving,  is 
when,  as  you  read  the  table  of  contents,  you  feel  im- 
patience to  begin  the  chapter,  as  containing  exactly 
the  facts  you  want  to  know — the  very  observations 
you  wish  to  compare  with  your  own.  And  this  eager 
curiosity  and  zest  for  reading  with  a  proper  method, 
will  have  a  continually  wider  field  for  its  exertion,  till 
at  last  every  book  will  have  its  interest.  Did  you 
never  hear  a  man  fond  of  literature  say,  "  Give  me 
any  book  ;  I  do  not  mind  what  it  is."  While  asking 
this  question,  there  rises  before  me  a  vision  of  one, 
an  accomplished  scholar  and  hard-worked  man  of 
active  life,  standing  amidst  a  nursery  of  children,  so 
riveted  on  one  of  their  story  books  picked  off  the 
floor,  that  the  young  fry,  spite  of  all  their  pulling  at 
his  skirts,  and  cHnging  to  his  knees,  despaired  in  their 
impatience  at  moving  him,  till  one  cried,  "Ah!  I 
knew  if  we  did  not  keep  our  picture  books  away  from 
him,  he  would  not  let  ue  ride  on  his  foot  till  he  had 
read  them  all  through." 

None  but  those  so  eminently  blessed  with  mental 
endowments,  can  conceive  all  the  pleasures  which 
spring  from  the  well-formed  and  fertile  mind ;  it 
seems  ready  fitted  with  little  cells  for  all  sweets;  to 
have  a  distinct  pigeon-hole  for  every  kind  of  commu- 
nication :  all  it  receives  has  a  tendency  not  to  dissolve 
and  darken,  but  to  crystaUize  in  brilliancj'  and  beauty ; 
however  extended  its  chain,  each  link  ends  in  a  hook 
for  joining  more.  These  are  the  minds  which  in 
society  give  almost  as  much  pleasure  as  they  enjoy : 
they  find  companions  even  in  those  whom  their  friends 
feel  disposed  to  apologize  for  asking  them  to  meet. 
Dr.  Johnson  said  he  would  rather  sit  next  an  intelli- 
gent man  of  the  world  than  a  scholar ;  for  the  man 
who  has  learned  life  from  nature's  own  volume  is 
provided  with  a  supply  as  varied  and  as  rich  as  is  the 
store  from  which  he  draws ;  he  can  repay  with  genuine 
undipped  coin,  in  bold  relief,  fresh  from  nature's 
mint ;  however  small  his  after-dinner  contribution  to 
the  common  fund  of  entertainment,  it  still  is  sterling, 
pure,  and  unadulterated ;  and  as  Gray  said  of  Bos- 
well's  Corsica,  that  it  proved  any  man  with  talent  or 
without  could  write  a  useful  book,  if  he  would  only 
faithfully,  and  without  affectation,  detail  what  he  had 
seen  and  heard  in  a  sphere  which  the  rest  of  the  world 
had  never  seen,  and  was  curious  to  know :  so  the 
man  of  well-formed  mind  regards  companions  ;  he  is 
fully  prepared  to  be  entertained  by  the  humblest  re- 
lator of  "  things  that  he  doth  know :"  he  consequent- 
ly is  qualified  to  be  always  pleasing ;  for  be  it  observed, 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


men  please  in  society  not  in  proportion  as  they  inform, 
but  as  they  elicit ;  and  who  are  so  formed  to  elicit  as 
those  who,  by  the  course  of  study  here  recommended, 
are  rendered  not  vain-glorious  to  poor  forth,  but  ha- 
bitually intent  on  the  great  end  of  all  company  and 
conversation — to  hear,  and  observe,  and  be  improved  ? 
These  remarks  will  suffice  to  give  a  general  view 
of  the  system  I  have  to  propose.  Let  us  now  con- 
sider the  various  subjects  of  the  general  reader — His- 
tory, Biography,  Poetry,  &.c.,  and  show  with  what 
authors,  and  what  method,  each  line  of  study  should 
be  pursued.  And  here  let  it  be  clearly  understood, 
once  for  all,  that  I  am  not  prescribing  for  the  sound 
and  vigorous  patient,  and  unwearied  man  of  letters, 
but  for  the  delicate,  weak,  and  sickly  appetite,  which 
requires  humouring  and  coaxing  at  first  to  bring  it  to 
health  and  strength,  when  I  am  sure  no  advice  of  this 
kind  will  be  required.  If  any  say,  "  What  a  shallow 
course  this  is!"  I  reply,  "this  is  precisely  what  I 
intend  it  to  be ;  still  it  is  too  deep  unhappily  for 
many." 

First  let  us  resume  a  topic  on  which  wc  already 
touched.  I  can  explain  my  method  better  with  some 
subject-matter  as  an  example,  so  we  will  consider 
English  History. 

Chinese  scholars  are  divided  into  two  classes,  says 
a  traveller,  those  who  read  only,  and  those  who  un- 
derstand what  they  read.  This  distinction  may  be 
drawn  nearer  home.  Those  who  read  and  those  who 
remember,  we  have  all  observed,  are  often  different 
parties,  and  so  also  are  those  who  remember  and 
those  who  improve ;  in  other  words,  they  who  only 
retain  facts,  having  a  mind  like  the  article  headed 
with  Farrago,  or  MuUum  in  Parvo,  in  the  new.«pa- 
pers,  are  not  always  the  persons  who,  by  digesting, 
classifying,  and  inferring,  have  a  stock  of  really  avail- 
able information.  Now  I  feel  I  should  be  doing  little 
if  I  did  not  teach  so  to  read  that  we  may  first  remem- 
ber what  we  read  ;  secondly,  digest  it ;  thirdly,  have 
it  ready  and  available.  "  Say  you  so,"  says  a  young 
friend,  for  whose  guidance  I  am  partly  induced  to 
write  this,  "then  what  I  read  must  he  no  great  deal ; 
it  must  be  a  very  short  history  at  all  events."  Pre- 
cisely what  I  was  going  to  say.  Read  a  very  short 
History  of  England  first — the  Outline  by  the  Society 
already  mentioned.  I  know  a  child  of  ten  years  of 
age  who  learned  this  so  thoroughly,  that  he  could 
answer  any  question.  I  once  defied  an  old  college 
companion  to  puzzle  him  ;  and  after  receiving  an  ac- 
curate answer  to  twenty-three  questions  out  of  tvverity- 
four,  my  friend  wanted  to  know  how  it  was  possible 
for  a  child  to  learn  so  much.  I  showed  the  book — a 
well  chosen  outline,  too  bare  and  meagre  to  be  alone 
very  improving — too  jejune  a  skeleton  to  satisfy  the 
cravings  of  a  really  healthy  and  hungry  mind,  yet  it 
contained  all  matters  within  the  comprehension  of  a 
child.  Fine  painters  tell  their  pupils,  first  draw  a  cor- 
rect outhne — let  your  anatomy  be  correct  first ;  it  is 
easy  to  fill  in,  and  to  colour  afterwards.  With  this 
little  history  you  have  the  figure — the  bones ;  but  we 
must  galvanize  this  anatomy  and  add  flesh,  substance, 
vigour,  and  life ;  we  must  make  these  bones  live.  To 
keep  to  my  former  plan,  let  this  outline  history  repre- 
sent the  long  stem  of  a  tree.  How  are  we  to  fill  it 
up!  It  looks  hollow,  to  say  nothing  of  branches  at 
present.  With  this  kind  of  drawing  the  pupil  may 
begin  to  fill  in  just  when  he  pleases,  provided  he  takes 
care  that  the  outline  does  not  become  erased,  and  that 
the  whole  figure  of  his  tree  is  plainly  before  his  eye 
from  first  to  last.  Every  one  according  to  his  ability 
may  work  out  and  bring  into  bolder  relief  and  more 
substantial  form  any  part  that  he  pleases,  and  may, 
without  any  material  consequence,  proceed  either  up 
or  down.  Full  well  I  know  the  most  idle  have  a  dis- 
position to  even  the  most  toilsome  work  in  order  to 
complete  and  connect  little  blanks  that  disfigure  their 
work.  No  one  would  finish  head,  limbs,  and  breast, 
and  then  leave  the  figure  like  Tityos,  with  vitals 
doomed  never  to  heal.  The  straight-forward  way  to 
fill  up  your  tree  would  be  to  take  up  another  larger 
history :  not  Hume's,  it  is  too  big  as  yet ;  but  Keignt- 
2 


ley's'  or  Goldsmith's^  first.  The  time  required  for 
learning  these  three  will  not  be  as  long  as  would  be 
required  for  Keightley's,  without  these  smaller  works 
as  an  introduction.  The  parts  which  are  substantially 
(he  same  in  all  will  be  taken  at  a  glance,  and  serv<' 
pleasantly  to  refresh  memory,  rather  than  exhaust  at- 
tention. We  feel  a  secret  pleasure  in  our  studies 
when  we  meet  with  what  we  know ;  it  shows  we  are 
improving,  however  gradually,  to  that  state  in  which 
we  may  read  whole  volumes  rather  to  judge  and  pro- 
nounce, than  merely  to  be  taught  without  discretion. 
Even  Keightley  gives  Httle  more  than  an  outline  ;  but 
outline  is  a  comparative  term  :  he  gives  such  an  ou'- 
line  as  deserves  to  be  considered  very  substantial  in 
comparison  with  the  historical  knowledge  that  most, 
even  of  those  reputed  well  informed,  really  possess. 
We  have  all  heard  the  remark,  that  one  half  the  world 
does  not  know  how  the  other  half  lives,  and  if  it  is  not 
generally  known  how  many  things  half  the  world 
lives  and  dies  without  enjoying,  most  truly  may  this 
be  said  of  intellectual  stores.  How  few  would  hke  to 
confess  the  little  that  they  know — at  least,  the  very 
limited  number  of  correct  replies  they  coiild  at  any 
moment  sit  down  and  write,  for  another's  judgment, 
to  questions  which  were  within  the  capacity  even  of  a 
child.  Supposing  ourselves  born  with  minds  literally 
a  blank  sheet  of  paper,  and  that  these  tablets  were 
required  to  be  laid  open  for  the  inspection  of  our 
neighbours,  should  we  not  feel  how  little  there  was  tu 
be  seen  on  topics  with  which  we  were  supposed  to  be 
so  well  acquainted,  and  how  indistinctly  and  inaccu- 
rately even  that  little  was  inscribed  ?  Were  the 
minds  of  many  thus  laid  bare,  all  that  at  the  moment 
remained  for  judgment  would  seem  less  the  acqui.s;- 
tions  of  a  Ufe  than  the  desultory  reading  of  an  hour. 
Oh!  if  the  pale  patient,  bled,  blistered,  and  reduced, 
could  so  read  his  physician — if  the  client  with  his 
estate  in  chancery  could  so  pry  into  the  narrow  data  on 
which  his  lawyer  founds  such  broad  conclusions — il 
those  who  dream  of  the  unlimited  powers  of  ministe- 
rial sagacity  could  so  prove  "with  what  very  iiiilf- 
wisdom  the  world  is  governed,"  many  would  agre^- 
that  the  goodness  of  Providence  is  in  no  way  nior" 
remarkable  than  in  this,  that  in  the  wise  economy  oi 
creation,  all  disturbing  causes  are  so  nicely  calculated 
and  balanced,  that  busy  man  has  even  less  power  to 
do  mischief,  than  he  thinks  he  has  to  do  good. 

Let  none  despair  because  his  knowledge  8eem.= 
little,  if  it  is  only  accurate.  The  Germans,  who  so 
well  understand  practical  education,  say  "  nothing  i.^ 
so  prolific  as  a  little  known  well."  Knowledge  in- 
creases in  a  geometrical  ratio.  The  total  of  the  acqui- 
sitions of  the  mind  is  the  continued  product,  rather 
than  the  sum  of  all  it  contains. 

A  little  sound  and  well  digested  historical  knowledge 
will  be  always  useful ;  but  if  the  facts  are  mistaken, 
the  deductions  must  be  as  false  in  matter  as  they  arc 
logical  in  form  ;  and  all  arguments  will  be  as  absurd 
as  the  answer  of  a  sum  in  arithmetic  with  an  error  i:i 
the  first  line.  This  inaccuracy  accounts  for  the  ob- 
stinacy of  those  called  wrong-headed  men.  They  art 
sure  their  reasoning  is  right ;  but  as  their  facts  happen 
to  be  wrong,  they  have  only  the  advantage  of ' '  method 
in  their  madness,"  and  blundering  by  rule. 

This  is  a  topic  on  which  I  am  the  more  disposed  to 
dwell,  because  I  believe  many,  really  capable  of 
knowledge,  remain  in  ignorance  from  two  causes. 
First,  from  an  opinion  that  any  available  degree  of  in- 
formation is  beyond  their  powers.  Secondly,  thai 
others  know  so  much  that  all  they  can  learn  will  b' 
nothing  in  comparison.  The  latter  should  be  consoled 
with  the  above  observations,  and  taught  to  beware  ot 
shallow  pretenders,  and  men  who  always  talk  on  their 
own  topics.  "  You  are  surprised,"  said  Talleyrand, 
"  that  I  talk  so  well.    Tell  me,  would  it  be  no  ad- 


'Keishtley's  England.  1vol.  Turner &Hayden, 
New  York. 

2  Goldsmith's  England,  with  additions  by  Grim- 
shaw.    1  vol.     Grigg  &.  Elliott,  Philadelphia.  •, 


10 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


vnnlag:e  to  draw  an  enemy  to  your  own  ground,  and 
only  fifjht  where  your  etvength  is  concentrated  and 
your  position   commanding  ?     That  is  precisely  my 
art."     Men  lose  no  credit  by  being  often  silent,  if, 
when  thoy  speak,  they  speak  to  the  purpose.    Bacon 
refines  upon  this,  and  says.  "  lie  who  is  silent  where 
he  is  known  (o  be  informed,  will  be  believed  to  be  in- 
formed where  from  ignorance  he  is  silent."     Again, 
Rochefavicauld  observes,  "  The  desire  to  seem  learn- 
ed prevents  many  from  becoming  such."     Numbers 
do  we  meet  who  make  a  profession  of  small  talk — 
not  more  quaintly  than  properly  so  called — (or  what 
can  show  more  littleness,  what  can  be  more  unworthy 
the  serious  application  of  the   human  mind, — an  in- 
strument capable  of  mastering  principles  of  extensive 
application,  of  discerning  truth  in  matters  where  the 
harmonious  movement  of  the  vast  and  complicated 
machinery  of  social  life  maybe  disordered  by  the  pre- 
valence of  error, — than  to  be  limited  to  the  petty  do- 
mestic history  of  beings  of  a  day,  who  owe  a  week's 
celebrity    to   the  difficulty   of  filling  newspapers — a 
knowledge  that  must  begin  almost  "  de  novo"  every 
session  of  parliament.     If  you  study,  e.xclusively  de- 
voted to  the  secret  improvement  of  your  own  mind, 
and  for  the  pleasures  a  well-stored  mind  has  ever  at 
command,  you  will  at  the  same  time  be   taking  the 
readiest  means  to  "  shine  in  society  ;"  but  if  you  seek 
,  the  vain  glory  and  opinion  of  others,  you  will  sacrifice 
real  improvement  to  the  pursuit  and  gain,  at  best  but 
( the  commendation,  of  fools.     "  Let  every  man,"  said 
1  Lord  Bolingbroke,'  "read  according  to  his  profession 
(Or  walk  in  life.     Suppose  that  a  man  shuts  himself  up 
i  :n  his  study  twenty  years,  and  then  comes  forth  pro- 
(  fouiidly  learned  in  Arabic,  he  gains  a  great  name  ;  but 
1  where  is  the  good  of  it  ?"     There  was  an  undergra- 
I  duate  at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  in  1829,  who  was 
1  famed  for  knowing  the  names,  drivers,  coach  inns, 
( times  of  starting  and  arrival,  of  most  of  the  principal 
,  stages  in  Elngland.     The  absurdity  of  this  is  too  ap- 
i  parent  to  be  imitated ;  but  I  will  not  say  too  great. 
1  There  are  many  powerful  minds  at  the  present  moment 
1  devoted  to  pursuits  quite  as  unprofitable  to  others,  and 
t  i>early  as  unimproving  to  themselves. 
,      The  other  class  whom  diffidence  deters  from  a  lite- 
-  rary  course  must  be  encouraged  by  the  words^  of  Sir 
J  J.  Reynolds,   addressed  to  the  pupils   of  the  Royal 
(Academy;  he  says: — "  The  travellers  into  the  East 
^tell  us,  that  when  the  ignorant  inhabitants  of  those 
t  countries  are  asked  concerning  the  ruins  of  stately 
^edifices  yet  remaining  amongst  them,  the  melancholy 
(;  monuments  of  their  former   grandeur  and  long- lost 
J  science,  they  always  answer,   '  they  were  built  by 
1  magicians.'     The    untaught  mind  finds  a  vast  gulf 
(^between  its  own  powers  and  those  works  of  compli- 
]-catcd  art,  which  it  is  utterly  unable  to  fathom  ;  and  it 
i  supposes  that  such  a  void  can   be  passed  only  by 
^supernatural  powers."     What  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds 
j-says  of  painting  is   true  of  literature.     Those  who 
J  know  not  the  cause  of  any  thing   extraordinary  and 
■ybeyond  them,  may  well  be  astonished  at  the  effect; 
oand   what   the  uncivilized  ascribe   to   magic,  others 
gBscribe  to  genius:  two  mighty  pretenders,  who  for  the 
(jinost  part  are  safe  from  rivalry,  only  because,  by  the 
^terror  of  their  name,  they  discourage  in  their  own 
ppeculiar  sphere   that  resolute  and  sanguine  spirit  of 
(  enterprise  which  is  essential  to  success.     But  all  magic 
is  science  in  disguise  :  let  us  proceed  to  take  off  the 
|r,inask — to    show    that   the   mightiest   objects   of  our 
gWonder  are  mere  men  like  ourselves ;  have  attained 
Qtheir  superiority  by  steps  which  we  can  follow ;  and 
p<hat  we  can,  at  all  events,  walk  in  the  same  path, 
(jthough  there  remains  at    last  a  space   between  us. 
'yThink  of  the  wit  of  Hudibras !    How  wonderful  the 
pinind  which  could  in  the  same  page  illustrate   and 


),  '  LoF.D  Bolingbroite's  Complete  Works,  with  a 
jXife,  in  4  vols.  8vo.  first  American  edition.  Carey 
^&,  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

2  Sir  JosnuA  Reynolds'  Discourses,  with  notes 
Iby  Burnet,  illustrated,  4to,  London,  1844. 


throw  into  relief,  as  it  were,  by  a  single  touch,  dis- 
tinct ideas,  by  reference  to  things  of  classes  so  difTer- 
ent,  that  the  fact  of  thought  being  employed  about  the 
one  would  seem  to  ensure  its  overlooking  the  other. 
How  strange  that  more  witty  things  should  occur  to 
Butler  while  writing  one  page,  and  that  bearing  every 
appearance  of  an  off-hand  composition,  than  would 
occur  to  most  men  while  writing  a  volume.  Now 
draw  back  the  curtain  and  the  phantom  resolves  itself 
into  the  common  things  of  daily  life. 

"  The  author  of  Hudihras,^^  said  Johnson,  "had  a 
common-place  book,  in  which  he  had  reposited,  not 
such  events  or  precepts  as  are  gathered  by  reading, 
but  such  remarks,  similitudes,  allusions,  assemblages, 
or  inferences,  as  occasion  prompted  or  inclination  pro- 
duced ;  those  thoughts  which  were  generated  in  his 
own  mind,  and  might  be  usefully  applied  to  some 
future  pin-pose.  Such  is  the  labour  of  those  who  write 
for  hnmorlality." 

Much  as  I  admire  Hudibras's  book,  I  cannot  help 
believing  that  the  reason  so  many  of  its  imitators  have 
failed  is,  that  they  endeavoured  to  meet  at  the  moment 
a  demand  for  wit  which  Butler  had  been  a  life  pre- 
paring to  supply.  I  have  known  men  of  little  talent  so 
ready,  by  the  practice  of  a  few  months,  with  an  in- 
ferior species  of  wit, — puns,  that  I  see  no  reason  why 
many  men  of  superior  talents  should  not  rival  Butler 
in  a  higher  kind,  if  they  only  had  recourse  to  the 
labour  and  method  which  a  great  authority  says  is  the 
price  of  immortality. 

See  the  miser  in  his  lonely  walk — his  head  down — 
his  soul  grovelling  in  the  dust — all  his  senses  intent  on 
one  narrovv,  sordid  pursuit,  money  or  money's  worth; 
— look,  he  turns  from  the  path  on  to  the  road  : — "  Is 
it  ?  no,  not  a  farthing,  but  a  button — and  no  shank. 
Ah!  buttons  often  leave  their  shanks  behind."  Still 
he  takes  it,  and  walks  on.  See  again:  "A  tube — 
tin  is  it  ? — spout  of  something — may  come  useful 
one  day — may  find  something  it  will  fit ;  did  once, 
two  years  after — fetched  two  pence."  Look  at  him  ; 
scan  that  perversion  of  human  kind,  and  say — 
were  that  man.  old  as  he  is,  self-denying  as  he 
is,  persevering  and  devoted  as  he  ever  has  been, 
through  many  a  toilsome  day  and  restless  night, 
a  miser,  not  of  pence  but  of  ideas,  of  the  coin  of 
the  mind,  were  he  equally  capable  of  putting  in  his 
claim  when  none  knew  the  rightful  owner  of  one  thing, 
of  effacing  marks  of  identity  in  a  second,  equally  in- 
genious, in  converting  a  third,  or  of  matching  a  fourth, 
what  might  not  the  same  habits  with  the  same  limited 
faculties  accomplish ! 

Again, — think  of  Sheridan.  His  speech  on  the  im- 
peachment of  Hastings  so  completely  ruled  the  spirits 
of  his  hearers  that  Pitt  said,  "  All  parties  were  under 
the  wand  of  the  enchanter,  and  only  vied  with  each 
other  in  describing  the  fascination  under  which  they 
were  held."  This  would  seem  like  genius — like 
inspiration  :  but  if  genius  means,  as  in  the  common 
acceptation  it  does  mean,  a  power  that  attains  its  end 
by  means  wholly  new  and  unpractised  by  others, 
then  was  Sheridan's  speech  no  work  of  geniu.s.^ 
Moore  paints  him  at  his  desk,  like  other  mortal  men, 
writing  and  erasing, — Mr.  Speaker,  to  fill  up  this 
pause,  and  "  Sir,"  to  fill  up  that ;  and  confirms  me  in 
the  opinion  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds — that  the  effects 
of  genius  must  have  their  causes,  and  that  these  may 
for  the  most  part  be  analysed,  digested,  and  copied; 
though  sometimes  they  may  be  too  subtle  to  be  re- 
duced to  a  written  art.  Sheridan  stored  up  his  wit 
like  Butler.  Some  of  his  famous  witticisms  were 
found  in  his  desk,  written  first  in  one  form  and  then 
in  another — the  point  shifted  to  try  the  effect  from  one 
part  of  the  sentence  to  another  ;  and  thus  did  he  labo- 
riously mould  and  manufacture  what  he  had  the  art  to 
mutter  as  an  impromptu. 

Remember  I  dispute  not  Sheridan's  brilliant  talents. 
I  only  argue  that,  high  as  they  were,  they  were  much 
lower  than  the  ignorant  rated  them.     I  would  main- 


3  Moore's  Life  of  Sheridan.    1  vol.8va. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


11 


tmn  that  even  the  mightiest  condescended  to  certain 
rules  and  methods  of  study  by  which  the  humblest 
are  able  to  profit ;  and,  amongst  other  ways  and 
means,  to  return  from  this  digression,  introduced  for 
my  pupil's  encouragement, — men  of  the  highest  en- 
dowments have  practised  and  bequeathed  outlines  of 
history,  plans  like  my  trees  of  knowledge,  and  com- 
mon-place books. 

Suppose  then,  as  I  was  saying,  you  proceed  to  fill 
up  your  historical  tree  with  Keighiley's  book ;  you 
may  either  read  it  from  end  to  end,  and  inscribe 
Keightley  along  the  whole  length  of  the  stem,  and 
feel  that  you  know  a  more  substantial  outline  than 
before ;  or  you  may  choose  particular  reigns  which 
are  most  interesting  to  you,  and  record  on  the  stem 
"Henry  VIII.,  or  C.'ll.— Keightley ;"  and  leave 
the  other  reigns  to  be  read  when  curiosity  leads  you. 
But  is  it  not  the  soundest  plan  to  read  a  history  right 
through,  and  master  all  the  difficulties  ?  Undoubtedly 
that  is  the  best  plan  if  you  can  do  it ;  that  is,  if  you 
can  not  only  so  read,  but  remember  and  digest  at  the 
same  time :  but  if  your  mental  constitution  is  not  yet 
strong  enough  for  the  whole  course  and  regimen,  it  is 
better  to  do  part  than  none  at  all:  and  well  I  know 
that  there  are  very  few  young  people  who  can  profit 
by  the  whole  of  any  history  the  first  time  of  reading ; 
therefore,  why  should  they  be  required  to  read  what 
they  cannot  digest,  and  what  must  discourage  them  ? 
I  only  recognise  the  extent  of  curiosity  for  the  time 
being  as  a  guide  in  reading,  because  nothing  discou- 
rages and  gives  a  dislike  to  study  so  much  as  perse- 
vering with  the  book  before  the  eyes  while  thoughts 
are  wandering  far  away. 

The  next  question  is,  "  How  am  I  to  proceed  when 
I  have  read  Keight ley's  History  of  England,  or  such 
reigns  as  suit  my  capacity  ?  Shall  I  read  Hume  and 
Smollett?"  Certainly  not  all  the  thirteen  thick  octa- 
vos, of  which  most  young  persons  would  forget  the 
first  before  they  had  read  the  last.  But  ask.  yourself 
whether  you  feel  so  far  interested  in  any  particular 
part  of  history  that  you  are  curious  to  read  a  more 
minute  detail.  If  pleased  with  any  one  reign,  or  war, 
or  negotiation  ;  or  should  the  comments  and  observa- 
tion with  which  men  of  genius  have  illustrated  such 
portions  excite  your  curiosity,  pick  out  what  you  de- 
sire, and  read  it  in  a  large  history — Hume  or  any 
other.  The  most  profitable  time  to  study  any  subject 
is  while  you  feel  a  lively  interest  about  it.  Having 
done  so,  record  on  the  corresponding  part  of  your 
tree,  "  Hen.  VIII.  or  C.  II.,  by  Hume;"  and  thus 
your  tree  will  grow  in  strength  and  substance.  But 
with  every  addition  to  strengthen  a  particular  part  of 
your  historical  fabric,  be  sure  you  cast  your  eye  over 
the  whole  work,  to  see  that  it  yet  remains  entire.  If 
you  cannot  readily  run  over  in  your  mind  the  simple 
outline  of  the  whole,  you  should  refresh  your  memory 
with  the  outline  history  before  you  proceed  any 
further. 

Doubtless  this  advice  must  seem  new :  but  the  oldest 
things  were  new  once  ;  and  all  improvements  must  be 
novelties.  Old  usage  and  length  of  service  appeal  to 
our  feelings;  and  wholesome  customs  are  sometimes 
allowed  the  weight  of  laws :  but  if  certain  ways  and 
means  have  stood  the  wreck,  but  not  the  test  of  time 
— if  the  good  old  tree  beneath  which  our  grandsires 
have  gambolled  has  ever  borne  more  leaves  than 
fruit,  cumbering  the  ground,  time-worn  but  not  time- 
honoured,  then  root  it  up  at  once,  and  make  room  for 
those  which  the  science  of  to-day,  collected  from  the 
failures  of  the  past,  enriches  the  rising  generation. 
And  certainly  as  to  the  common  ways  and  modes  of 
study,  "  if  TOoc/e  it  can  be  called  where  mode  is  none," 
judging  by  results,  we  can  say  little  indeed  in  their 
favour.  I  ask  any  person  of  advanced  years,  "  Could 
you  call  to  mind  more  than  one  out  of  fifty  young 
persons  of  your  acquaintance  who  ever  pursued  pri- 
vate reading  with  a  degree  of  method  and  judgment 
calculated  to  ensure  success  in  the  common  avoca- 
tions of  life  ?"  Consider  common  language,  which 
often  betrays  common  practice,  and  you  will  remem- 
ber that  the  usual  and  very  significant  expression  is, 


!  "We  have  read  this  book;"  not  "  We  know  it." 
Hobbes  of  Malmesbury  used  to  say,  "  If  I  had  read 
as  many  books  as  other  persons  I  should  probably 
know  as  little."     And  this  philosopher  is  only  one  out 
of  many  hundreds  of  worthy  witnesses,  in  intellectual 
matters  at  least,  who,  both  by  counsel  and  example,  i 
teach  us  to  read  a  little,  and  that  little  well :   such  • 
men  think  and  count,  not  by  the  books  they  read,  but 
the  subjects  they  exhaust.     Swift  said  that  the  reason 
a  certain  university  was  a  learned  place  was,    that  ^ 
most   persons  took  some   learning  there,   and  few! 
brought  any   away  with  them,   so  it  accumulated..! 
Now  could  it  be  said  of  our  minds,  that  every  habit ' 
tended   to  add,  w-ere  it  never  so  little,  but  nothing 
tended  to  take  away,  what  a  stock  might  not  even, 
the  most  moderate  reader,  in  a  short  time,  have  at 
command?     These  rules,  though  new,   are  not  un- 
tried ;  more  than  one  of  my  friends  has  followed  the 
method  of  reading  here  laid  down,  and  proceeded 
with  continually  increasing  interest, — the  necessary 
consequence  of  a  sense  of  steady  and  unintermitting  ' 
improvement.  '■ 

Let  us  now  suppose  that  a  course  of  methodical 
study  has  caused  one  of  my  friends  to  fill  up  by  de- 
grees the  greater  part  of  his  outhne  from  Hume  or 
some  larger  history  :  what  now  will  be  the  extent  of 
your  knowledge  ?  Will  you  be  disheartened  if  you 
are  told  that  you  have  nothing  but  an  outline  still ; 
for  this  is  scarcely  an  exaggeration.  It  is  true  that  in 
some  periods  Hume  may  have  given  at  length  as  ful! 
particulars  as  contemporary  authorities  supply,  or  th^ 
most  scrutinizing  curiosity  desires ;  but  upon  the 
greater  part  of  events  all  he  gives  is  a  mere  outline  or 
epitome  of  original  annals.  For  instance,  Froissart'e 
Chronicle'  alone  is  equal  in  bulk  to  Hume's  eigh: 
volumes,  although  it  comprehends  scarcely  an  eighth 
part  of  the  number  of  years.  Again,  reckoning,  ami 
there  is  good  authority  for  so  doing,  each  Times  news- 
paper of  a  double  sheet  equal  to  two  octavos,  we  ma> 
say  that  the  news  of  the  nation,  apart  from  advertise 
mcnts  and  trivial  subjects,  would  make  a  history  ai^ 
large  as  Hume  at  least  once  a  month.  Allowing  thei 
most  fully  for  all  that  is  lost,  what  a  bare  outline  nius 
eight  volumes  contain  of  matter  which  still  remain; 
illustrative,  not  of  months,  but  of  centuries  ! 

"  Then  what  an  ocean  you  would  have  us  embark 
on!  Can  we  ever  follow  out  so  large  a  plan  ?"  Hav( 
patience.  After  remarking  on  the  many  volume; 
English  history  must  fill,  I  was  going  to  add,  not  iha 
there  were  so  many  to  read,  but  so  many  from  whicl 
to  choose ;  and,  of  course,  the  larger  the  choice  thi 
more  easy  to  suit  every  variety  of  taste. 

Without  dictating  to  any  as  to  the  extent  of  thei 
studies,  I  would  only  show  them  how  to  make  thi 
little  tiine  they  employ  go  as  far  as  possible;  fo 
which  purpose  I  advise  a  short  outline  of  all  the  reigns 
and  a  minute  knowledge  of  parts ;  and  for  this  rea 
son.— The  sketches  of  the  historian  are  like  those  o( 
the  artist.  You  may  have,  first  of  all,  an  outlin' 
which  gives  rather  the  shadow  of  men  than  the  mei 
themselves;  then,  again,  you  may  have  a  mor 
marked  outline,  which  still  leaves  every  man  alike 
thirdly,  you  may  have  the  figures  rudely  filled  up 
giving  substantial  form  and  individual  character,  bu 
still  stiff  and  inanimate ;  or,  lastly,  you  may  have 
faithful  expression  of  impassioned  agents,  delineatin, 
an  interesting  passage  of  real  life.  Now  which  woul , 
you  prefer, — one  good  historical  picture — say  a  pane 
rama  of  the  Battle  of  Waterloo,  in  which  you  coul 
understand  all  the  movements,  positions,  and  manoeu 
vres  of  one  mighty  action,  which  would  serve  as 
key  to  every  other,  or  a  long  series  of  the  usual  bal 
tie-pieces,  differing  one  from  another  in  little  else  tha 
in  the  artist's  partiality  to  fire  and  smoke. 

The  leading  facts  and  events  of  history  may  h 
copied  and  handed  down  from  age  to  age.  By  ir 
dustrious  research  ingenious  writers  may  ascertai 


'  Froissakt's  Chronicles.     One  large  vol.  8v«  . 
with  numerous  illustrations,  price  $3.    Wincheste 
New  York.  i^ 


12 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


the  details  of  wars  and  treaties  at  a  distant  period  of 
time ;  but  contemporaries  alone  can  draw  characters, 
uid  amuse  us  with  vivid  portraiture.  This  was  John- 
ron's  remark  on  Robertson's  histories.  He  said  the 
characters  in  history  must  be  fiction,  unless  drawn  by 
hose  who  knew  the  persons,  as  Sallust  and  Claren- 
lon.  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  too,  remarked  that  the 
listinctness  of  Robertson's  historical  characters  was 
;aused  at  the  expense  of  truth,  by  exaggerating  their 
nore  marked  features.  And  Sir  Robert  Walpole, 
vhen,  as  Mr.  Crokcr  quotes,  his  son  Horace'  offered 
o  amuse  him  with  reading,  said,  "Any  thing  but 
listory ;  that  must  be  false."  He  meant  to  say  the 
mputed  motives,  finer  springs  of  actions,  and  minute 
letail  of  concurrent  causes,  were,  for  obvious  reasons, 

0  inscrutable  to  historians  generally,  that  he  cared 
lot  for  their  works. 

I  say,  therefore,  in  preference  to  dry  outline,  en-v 
ivened  only  by  fictitious  circumstances  and  plausible 
easonings  on  doubtful  data,  read  the  history,  of  a 
imited  period,  by  men  who  had  at  least  some  oppor- 
unity  of  knowing  what  they  wrote. 

This  opinion  of  the  mode  of  historical  study  is  not 
nsupported  by  high  authority.  Bacon  remarked,  he 
hould  like  to  have  a  history  formed  from  the  genuine 
/orka  of  all  the  writers  of  their  own  times,  arranged, 
nd,  if  requisite,  translated,  but  not  abbreviated. 
'  For  compilers,"  said  he,  "  are  the  very  '  moths  of 
istory.'  "     Now  let  us  reflect  on  what  was  passing 

1  Bacon's  mind  when  he  made  choice  of  this  ex- 
ression.  History,  as  faithfully  related  by  a  series 
•f  writers,  each  detailing  at  length  what  he  saw  and 
card,  seemed  to  Bacon  like  a  fine  piece  of  tapestry, 
'herein  were  delineated  figures  that  seemed  to  move 
nd  breathe  in  positions  which  told  the  whole  story — 
•'ho  the  victors — who  the  vanquished — the   cause  of 

rife — the  fire  of  the  chiefs,  and  the  struggles  of  the 
,ien.  To  such  "  cunning  embroidery"  we  may  liken 
,»e  varied  and  vivid  page  of  Froissart :  but  when 
;[ume  comes  in  the  character  of  moth  the  first,  makes 

avoc  of  all  colours  an'd  perspective,  till  no  eye  can 

istinguish  between  friend  and  foe — when  Goldsmith 
;>llows  as  moth  the  second,  eats  up  each  remnant  of 
(istinctive  character  and  vitality,  and  makes  the  living 
jiotionless  as  the  slain — and  lastly,  Pinnock,  as 
■lOth  the  third,  preys  on  what  the  other  two  had 
j)ared,  and  makes  skeletons  both  of  the  dying  and  the 
i?ad — surely  such  shadowy  sketches  of  things  that 
1  ere  cannot  so  far  give  the  character  of  the  past  as 
■  I  make  it  what  history  should  be — the  mirror  of  the 
(iture — the  lessons  of  philosophy  teaching  by  ex- 
«nple.  With  this  picture  present  to  my  mind,  I  call 
joldsmith's  history  an  outline — a  skeleton:  it  con- 
dins  topics  under  which  you  may  very  conveniently 
jTange  ideas  derived  from  other  writers.  But  to  be 
jMitented  with  such  an  outline  alone  is  like  taking  the 
lOuble  of  providing  yourself  with  a  frame  of  pigeon- 
pies  for  historical  papers,  and  not  collecting  anj'  to 
tit  in  them.  For  to  say  such  epitomes  give  distinct 
leas  of  themselves  is  absurd:  only  suppress  the 
jimes,  and  then  if  we  ask  which  is  Oliver  Cromwell, 
fid  which  is  Wellington,  we  may  well  be  answered, 
cie  children  at  the  peep-show,  "  Which  you  please, 
ly  little  dears." 

J  Let  it  be  granted,  then,  that  since  the  voluminous 
(Stories  in  common  use,  such  as  Hume's,  Smollett's, 

id  others,  which  do  not  contain  a  simple  account  of 
\.e  days  in  which  their  authors  severally  lived,  pass 
If  rer  matters  with  so  light  a  touch,  and  we  may  add 
cithso  httle  to  guide  the  pencil,  that  readers  who 
j>nfine  themselves  to  their  compositions  alone,  evi- 
cjntly  pursue  rather  the  shadow  than  the  substance 
•»:  real  knowledge.  And  this  is  a  postulate,  to  speak 
iiathematically,  which  Coleridge  might  as  readily 
c,-ant  with  the  writings  of  Hume  as  with  those  of 
(ibbon,  of  whom  he  said,  in  his  "  Table  Talk,"  that 
])  passes  along  from  height  to  height,  so  as  to  convey 
f_ 

•  Horace  Walpole' s  inimitable  Letters,  complete 
]i  6  vols.  8vo.    Lea  &.  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 


more  the  idea  of  romance  than  of  history,  and  shows 
nothing  of  the  wide  flats  and  valleys  of  real  life. 

Indeed  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  the  strength  of 
Hume,  or  any  other  single  writer,  would  suflice  ade- 
quately to  investigate  the  memorable  achievements 
of  sixteen  hundred  years.  How  his  fingers  must  tire 
ere  he  could  unfold  all  the  time-worn  records  of  ages 
past !  How  his  eyes  must  swim  over  the  black-let- 
tered Chronicles!  Think  of  the  many  volumes 
which,  as  Hallam  says,  have  long  ceased  to  belong  to 
rnen,  and  been  the  property  of  moths,  would  try  his 
sight  with  their  faint  and  curious  pages,  and  test  his 
patience  with  strange  words  as  strangely  spelt,  be- 
fore he  could  give  their  meed  of  fame  to  Romans, 
Britons,  Danes,  Saxons,  Normans.  Well  might  Ed- 
mund Burke^  say  he  found  Hume  not  very  deeply 
versed  in  the  early  part  of  British  history.  The 
powers  of  the  human  mind,  like  the  waters  of  the 
sea,  though  vast  and  deep,  are  limited  to  bounds  they 
cannot  pass  ;  and  when  they  are  highest  in  one  part 
are  necessarily  lowest  in  another.  So  Lady  Wortley 
Montagu'  complained  after  making  an  attempt  to  be- 
come intelligible  to  all  her  household  at  Pera,  fi-om 
whom,  be  it  known  to  all  housekeepers  of  these  de- 
generate days,  she  was  doomed  to  hear  the  same  old 
excuse  ten  times  told  in  ten  different  languages.  She 
said  she  found  the  practice  of  one  language  had  a  ten- 
dency to  diminish  her  aptitude  for  another  ;  and  her 
English  was  falling  into  decay.  Burke  said  that 
Hume  acknowledged  to  him  that  from  the  early  his- 
torians he  derived  no  increased  satisfaction  to  lead  him 
on  to  deep  research.  Burke  said  he  considered  him- 
self a  competent  judge  of  Hume's  work,  having  taken 
the  pains  to  go  through  the  early  authorities.  The 
reign  he  thought  most  carefully  composed  was  that 
of  Charles  II.  And  here  we  may  notice  a  vulgar 
error,  that  Smollett  wrote  a  continuation  of  Hume. 
The  truth  is,  that  Smollett  wrote  a  History  of  Eng- 
land from  the  time  of  the  invasion  of  the  Romans. 
It  is  not  one  of  the  least  of  the  curiosities  of  literature 
that  the  fame  of  Hume  should  so  completely  have 
eclipsed  that  of  Smollett  as  almost  to  erase  his  name 
from  the  list  of  the  historians,  and,  as  it  were,  to 
overlay  all  that  part  of  his  work  which  could  possibly 
enter  into  competition  with  his  own.  Even  a  writer 
in  the  "Edinburgh  Review,"  October,  1839,  ob- 
served,— "  Smollett  has  made  a  sorry  figure  by  con- 
tinuing the  History  of  England." 

'■■  Then  the  sum  of  all  these  stories  and  anecdotes 
apart  is,  that  we  must  actually  make  out  history  for 
ourselves  ?" — Yes.  This  is  the  legitimate  conclusion 
from  all  my  reasoning,  that  though  what  is  called 
history  is  of  some  small  value,  inasmuch  as  it  keeps 
the  terms  and  forms  of  knowledge  from  passing  into 
oblivion,  still  it  is  truly  composed  more  of  names  than 
things,  rather  shadowy  than  substantial,  and  greatly 
inferior  to  what  an  inteUigent  reader  may  easily  be 
led  to  collect  for  himself  You  must  choose  between 
these  mottoes:  "Every  man  his  own  historian,"  or 
"  No  man  an  historian  at  all :"  take  which  you  please. 
I  am  not  guilty  of  making  the  difficulty,  only  of 
stating  it ;  though  real  difliculty  there  is  none,  as  you 
shall  soon  acknowledge  :  the  only  trouble  consists  in 
making  choice  of  proper  authors,  or  proper  parts  of 
them.  But  here  let  me  meet  the  old  objection — "  We 
have  been  always  advised  to  read  books  through  from 
end  to  end."  The  only  consistent  meaning  of  this 
advice  is,  to  read  no  books  but  are  worth  thorough 
reading.  The  principle  is  good  ;  but,  if  taken  hteral- 
ly,  you  would  read  dictionaries  through,  or  cyclopffi- 
dias,  which  is  absurd;  as  indeed  old  Dr.  Johnson 
impatiently  remarked,  in  talking  of  a  printed  letter 
from  the  Rev.  Herbert  Croft  to  his  pupil. 

Johnson:  "  This  is  surely  a  strange  advice.  You 
may  as  well  resolve  that  whatever  men  you  happen 
to  get  acquainted  with,  you  are  to  keep  to  them  for 


2  Edmund  Burke's  works,  complete,  9  vols.  8vo. 
Little  &  Brown,  Boston. 

3  Letters  of  Lady  Mary  Wortley  Montagu,  in 
2  vols.  8vo.    Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia, 


A   COURSE   OF   ENGLISH   READING. 


13 


life.  A  book  may  be  good  for  nothing,  or  there  may 
be  only  one  thing  in  it  worth  knowing :  <ire  we  to 
read  it  all  through?"  It  is  well  known  that  the 
Doctor  said  he  never  read  any  book  through  but  the 
Bible.  Adam  Smith  said,  "  Johnson  knew  more 
books  than  any  man  alive ;"  and  Boswell  innocently 
remarks,  "He  had  a  peculiar  facility  in  seizing  at 
once  what  was  valuable  in  any  book,  without  sub- 
mitting to  the  labour  of  perusing  it  from  beginning  to 
end." 

To  draw  a  correct  outline  first,  carefully  preserving 
and  retracing  it  from  time  to  time,  while  filling  up 
according  to  inclination  or  ability,  is  the  method  I 
propose  to  explain  and  illustrate :  and  though  I  am 
now  showing  its  application  only  to  history,  by  way 
of  example,  I  shall  presently  have  occasion  to  explain 
how  well  it  is  adapted  for  directing  the  pursuit  of 
knowledge,  avoiding  confusion,  and  marking  progress 
in  any  subject  the  student  may  select. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  J.  C.,  (a  friend,  who  will  ex- 
cuse my  citing  his  case,)  on  entering  my  study  one 
morning  in  June,  1841,  with  long  sheets  of  paper, 
' '  here  are  my  outlines.  I  have  drawn  the  trunk  of 
my  tree  :  now  for  the  leaves  and  branches." 

Leaves  and  branches  must  be  drawn  in  proportion 
to  the  maturity  and  vigour  of  the  tree  ;  or,  to  speak 
more  plainly,  we  must  consider  your  curiosity,  taste, 
and  inclination.  The  strong  food  of  the  full-grown 
man  will  not  serve  as  nourishment  for  babes.  But 
the  taste  of  all  readers  may  be  regarded  as  threefold. 

One  class  of  readers  is  only  led  on  by  excitement, 
and  by  that  kind  of  interest  which  it  is  the  part  of  the 
novelist  to  supply.  Their  favourite  books  are  of  the 
nature  of  the  "Newgate  Calendar"  and  "Terrific 
Register."  They  read  for  the  pleasure  of  conjuring 
up  horrid  scenes  in  their  imaginations,  and  enjoying 
that  sense  of  comparative  security  which  the  poet 
Lucretius  has  so  sublimely  noticed.  If  it  be  true 
that— 

The  stage  but  echoes  back  the  public  voice — 

if,  that  is  to  say,  the  current  theme  of  every  novel 
and  romance  shows  the  public  taste  as  plainly  as  the 
cut  and  colours  in  the  dressmaker's  window  shows 
the  ruling  fashion,  we  can  readily  discern  one  of  the 
oldest  favourites  of  a  very  large  section  of  the  literary 
circle, — I  mean  in  homely  vernacular  "  Hanging  Sto- 
ries." "  God's  Revenge  against  Murder"  was  the 
title  of  one  of  the  earliest  books  ever  printed.  Punch 
and  Judy,  with  the  gallows  and  the  public  functionary, 
is  one  of  the  oldest  shows,  nor  at  any  fair  in  the 
country  does  it  find  a  more  fearful  rival  than  "  Maria 
and  the  Red  Barn,"  or  any  "most  barbarous  and 
inhuman  murder,  with  the  ghost  of  the  unhappy 
victim."  George  Barnwell  and  many  other  plots, 
too  exciting  in  their  very  name  to  allow  of  very  fasti- 
dious criticism  as  to  their  composition,  have  contri- 
buted to  supply  the  same  demand,  with  the  same 
commodity,  in  different  forms  down  to  the  present 
day.  And  now  in  the  development  of  every  plot, 
whether  there  be  or  be  not 

Dignus  vindice  nodus, 
a  jnurder  and  the  hangman  seem  as  common  a  re- 
source as  a  broken  heart,  or  blacksmith  of  Gretna 
Green  in  the  novels  of  our  younger  days.  Mr.  Gib- 
bon Wakefield,  about  ten  years  since,  wrote  an  in- 
teresting pamphlet  "  On  Crime  in  the  Metropolis," 
in  which  he  says,  that  by  comparing  the  statements 
of  a  large  number  of  prisoners  in  Newgate,  he  as- 
certained that  inveterate  thieves  rarely  failed  to  be 
present  at  an  execution,  not  so  much  for  an  oppor- 
tunity of  picking  pockets,  as  for  the  pleasure  of  ex- 
citement, which,  he  says,  by  the  very  e.xciting  nature 
of  their  lawless  pursuits,  thieves  soon  become  too 
callous  to  derive  from  any  ordinary  source.  There  is 
something  true  to  nature — painfully  true,  in  these 
words,  and  something  very  like  the  case  of  many 
novel  readers  who  bring  themselves  to  that  morbid 
state,  that  they  are  only  to  be  touched  by  an  appeal 
to  their  most  vulgar  sympathies !  Oh !  well  did 
Shakspeare  know  the  human  heart  when  he  crowded 


together  all  the  stirring  topics  of  Othello's  history. 
There  is  many  a  young  lady  of  whom  we  miglit  say 
that  when  serious  things  are  talked  of,  like  Desde- 
mona, — 

Still  the  house  atTairs  would  draw  her  thence  ; 
who  yet  to  a  tale  like  Othello's  would 

Come  again  and  with  greedy  ear 
Devour  up  my  discourse.  ; 

Indeed  myriads  are  there,  male  and  female,  who  will  [ 
read  only  for  excitement.     This  stimulus  is  exhibited 
by  authors  in  various  forms  and  different  quantities. 
The  best  employ  it  like  the  sweetening  or  spicing  of 
a  draught,  to  cheat  the  full-grown  child  into  taking  ; 
that  which  ministers  to  health.     I  allude  not  to  the  ( 
folly  of  writers  who  mi.x  things  sacred  with  profane,  ! 
as  if  those  who  will  profit  by  holy  things  will  not  seek  j 
them  in  holy  books  ;  still  less  do  I  allude  to  writers  • 
who  adopt  the  marketable  form  and  title  of  a  novel  to 
publish  their  views  of  political  philosophy,  but  I  refer 
with  great  respect  to  a  few  novelists  who  have  the  i 
goodness  and  the  talent  to  contrive  by  three  small  l 
volumes  to  rivet  the  attention  of  many  an  idle  youth, 
and  for  a  total  space  of  twenty  hours  or  more,  wean 
him  from  that. 

Which  Satan  finds  for  idle  hands  to  do  ;  •] 

f 
and  in  its  stead  provide  for  twenty  hours  a  wholesome  ^■ 
exercise  for  the  finest  sympathies  of  the  heart.  Still  >■ 
when  this  wholesome  recreation  fails,  literary  pastimes  ''\ 
of  a  mefe  negative  character  are  not  to  be  despised,  ;^ 
because  they  answer  the  purpose  of  keeping  worse  '■_ 
thoughts  out  of  the  mind,  and  sometimes  lead  on  the  !j 
student,  step  by  step,  till  he  reaches  the  purest  sphere  J 
of  intellectual  existence.  The  first  of  the  classes  into  % 
which  I  divide  readers  then,  I  consider,  like  Desde-  ' 
mona,  they  would  have  all  narrators  of  Othello's 
caste,  and  would  read  of — 

battles,  sieges,  fortunes  ; — 

of  most  disastrous  chances. 
Of  moving  accidents,  by  flood  and  field ; 
Of  hair-breadth  scapes  i'  the  imminent  deadly  breach  ; — 

of  antres  vast  and  deserts  idle, 
Roucli  quarries,   rocks,   and    hills  whose    heads    touch 

heaven  ;— 
And  of  the  Cannibals  that  each  other  eat. 
The  Anthropophajri,  and  men  whose  heads 
Do  grow  beneath  their  shoulders. — 

A  book  with  this  page  of  Shakspeare  for  its  table 
of  contents,  would  probably  be  a  general  favourite 
with  the  subscribers  of  every  circulating  library  in 
the  kingdom ;  for  the  majority  of  readers  cannot  be 
considered  much  above  the  excitement  class.  Their 
state  of  mind  is  by  no  means  healthy  I  allow ;  still 
the  lowest  order  ot  intellectual  is  preferable  to  mere 
physical  resources.  A  book  containing  but  little 
good  has  kept  many  a  youth  from  company  produc- 
tive of  positive  evil.  The  excitement  and  gross  im- 
morality even  of  the  worst  of  the  old-fashioned  novels 
is  a  less  pernicious  stimulant  than  lounging  night  after 
night  with  a  cigar  to  the  billiard  room.  Not  lon<: 
since  I  heard  a  father  say,  "  If  I  could  only  see  my 
boy  reading  Tom  Thumb,  I  should  be  happy  ;  that 
would  be  a  beginning,  but  he  avoids  a  book  as  if  it 
had  the  plague."  The  habit  of  seeking  amusement 
with  books  is  so  truly  valuable  in  conducing  to  limit 
the  sphere  of  youthful  temptations,  that  a  parent  does 
wisely  if  he  encourages  it  at  almost  any  cost.  Chil- 
dren should  be  taught  that  books  are  as  natural  a 
source  of  fun  as  tops  and  balls.  A  quondam  acquaint- 
ance who  tried  for  nearly  seven  years  without  success 
to  take  a  degree  at  Oxford,  met  me  a  short  time  since, 
and  said,  "  Books  were  never  put  in  my  way  ;  when 
I  could  scarcely  read,  my  guardians  sent  me  to  Rug- 
by. My  grandmother  did  once  offer  to  make  me  a 
present  of  the  '  Seven  Wonders  of  the  World'  or 
some  such  book,  but  I  told  her  I  should  like  the  mo- 
ney instead,  so  she  gave  me  neither.  Now  I  am 
trying  for  some  situation  under  Government,  but  not 
many  will  do  for  me.  Head  work  in  an  office  is  out 
of  the  question.  Something  like  Commissioner  of 
Woods  and  Forests,  or  any  out-of-door  work  wouldii 
B 


14 


A  COURSE   OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


suit  me  exactly."  This  is  very  laughable,  but  it  is 
very  sad.  Think  of  the  tedious  hours  of  such  a  per- 
son's in-door  life  in  rainy  weather,  from  breakfast  to 
luncheon, — to  dinner — to  supper — to  bed.  How  truly 
described  by,  "Would  it  were  evening!"  "Would 
it  were  morning!"  and  this  state  of  mere  vegetation 
without  the  energy  of  life  is  one  in  which  many  a 
man  has  existed,  and  from  which  many  a  man  might 
have  been  snatched  away  to  a  sphere  of  usefulness 
had  his  parents  been  satisfied  to  give  their  child  sto- 
ries suitable  to  his  childish  taste. 

In  paying  so  much  deference  to  the  excitement 
class  of  readers,  I  only  act  on  the  principle  that  if  we 
wish  to  keep  a  child  quiet  we  must  give  him  such 
toys  as  he  is  in  a  humour  to  play  with.  Children  (in 
mind)  are  found  of  all  ages  ;  and,  as  Aristotle  says, 
"  whether  young  in  years,  or  young  in  character, 
matters  not  for  my  argument;"  for  doubtless  in  his 
day  as  in  ours,  children  often  attained  to  the  so-called 
years  of  discretion  without  being  able  to  run  alone. 
I  say  then,  those  of  youthful  taste  must  be  indulged 
in  their  own  way,  and  gradually  led  on  by  timely  en- 
couragement, and  the  influence  of  superior  minds,  to 
mingle  works  of  valuable  information  with  those  of 
more  thrilling  interest.  Thus  from  criminal  trials' 
(and  who  has  not  read  the  Newgate  Calendar  ?)  I 
have  known  youths  acquire  much  information  of  the 
principles  and  practice  of  the  laws  of  their  country, 
from  trials  for  murders  led  to  trials  for  treason,  and 
taught  to  connect  these  with  the  history  of  the  times  ; 
and  thence,  as  the  mind  matured,  they  have  learned 
to  reflect  on  the  state  and  progress  of  society.  But 
after  all,  be  the  taste  of  youth  what  it  may,  it  is  better 
they  should  read  in  their  own  way,  with  certain  ob- 
vious exceptions,  than  not  at  all.  "What?"  I  may 
be  sure  some  will  say,  "is  that  which  ministers  to 
love  of  excitement  and  a  morbid  appetite  for  subjects 
which  are  vain  and  profitless,  and  take  up  time  never 
to  be  redeemed,  isthis  tobe  recommended  for)''outh?" 
No — not  in  the  abstract,  but  as  a  choice,  which  so 
commonly  presents  itself  of  manifest  evils. 

A  few  months  since,  in  vindicating  classical  studies 
and  works  of  sound  reading,  I  happened  to  allude  to 
novels,  and  remarked  that  they  were  often  read  for 
that/oe  to  piety — excitement.  Now,  as  my  meaning 
was  not  sufficiently  plain,  that  a  due  balance  and  even 
tone  of  mind  in  just  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  Him 
whom  it  is  the  end  and  aim  of  this  mortal  life  with 
gracious  aid  to  imitate,  is  to  be  ever  regarded  in  our 
choice  of  intellectual  recreations  and  more  serious 
studies — that  therefore,  as  novels  ministered  to  morbid 
love  of  excitement,  they  tended  to  destroy  this  true 
harmony  of  feeling,  and  that  in  proportion  as  they  do 
so,  they  fall  short  of  the  highest  order  of  studies — as 
this  argument  was  not  understood,  a  lady  with  a  large 
family  addressed  me  thus:  "You  object  to  novels 
and  story  books  as  irreligious,  because  exciting.  I 
have  four  very  high-spirited,  though  very  excellent 
sons  ;  if  I  lock  up  Robinson  Crusoe  from  my  George, 
and  the  Waverley  novels^  from  the  other  three,  how 
am  I  to  prevent  them  from  turning  the  whole  house  out 
of  window  the  very  first  wet  day,  for  they  tuill  read 
nothing  else  ?"  A  few  days  after,  a  sensible  physician 
told  me  he  had  a  patient  who  could  keep  nothing  on 
his  stomach  but  lobster  salad.  Now,  said  he,  men 
with  one  idea  would  starve  him  first,  and  plead  the 
rules  of  their  profession  afterwards.  So,  .t^ome  who 
minister  to  the  mind  instead  of  giving  the  child  child- 
ish things,  try  to  force  an  appetite  for  serious  reading 
prematurely,  and  most  efiijctually  nip  in  the  bud  the 
slow-growing  but  healthy  plant,  which,  with  careful 
nurture,  would  have  borne  good  fruit  in  due  season. 

But  do  you  not  know  that  Sir  Walter  Scott  some- 
times treats  religious  things  with  too  much  levity  ? 
I  will  not  deny  tliat  Sir  Walter  would  himself  wish 


'  Celebkated  Trials  in  all  Ages  and  Coun- 
tries, in  1  vol.  8vo,  600  pages,  50  cts.    Carey  &  Hart. 

2  The  Waverley  Novels,  with  the  author's  latest 
notes  and  additions,  complete  in  5  vols.  8vo.  3250 
pages,  for  two  dollars  and  a  half.     Carey  &  Hart. 


certain  things  unsaid  ;  but  till  another  author  arisen 
to  publish  a  number  of  volumes  which  will  be  really 
read  (for  books  not  read,  however  good,  we  cannot 
count),  breathing  a  spirit  equally  wholesome  and 
equally  in  unison  with  the  brotherly  love  and  charity 
of  the  Gospel,  and  at  the  same  time  so  superior  to  the 
novels  that  were  most  popular  before  his  day,  as  well 
as  to  those  which  have  been  most  popular,  that  is, 
most  read,  since, — Sir  Walter  must  be  admitted  not 
only  to  have  been,  but  still  to  be,  one  of  the  greatest 
benefactors  of  modern  times.  Bishop  Heber  was  a 
great  admirer  of  Scott's  works.  We  learn  from  his 
Journal  that  he  read  Quentin  Durward  on  his  voyage, 
and  said  no  other  man  but  Scott  could  have  written  it. 

Class  the  first  then  comprises  readers  of  youthful 
taste.  Their  appetite  is  for  the  rare,  the  dainty,  highly- 
seasoned  viands.  When  instructive  subjects  are  pro- 
posed they  soon  find  "house  affairs  to  draw  them 
hence,"  and  must  be  amused  like  Desdemona  before 
they  will  "  seriously  incline  and  with  greedy  ear  de- 
vour up  my  discourse."  When  one  of  this  class  sits 
down  to  a  book  of  sterling  worth,  he  looks  at  his 
watch,  prepares  his  marker,  smoothes  down  the  page, 
knits  his  brow,  turns  his  back  to  the  window,  and 
begins.  The  first  page  is  read  with  great  attention, 
and,  perchance,  the  second,  with  nearly  as  much: 
he  turns  over  the  third,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  finds 
his  eyes  nearly  at  the  bottom  ;  how  they  got  there 
he  knows  not,  for  his  thoughts  he  feels  had  gone  off 
at  a  tangent  from  the  top.  These  truant  thoughts  are 
soon  recalled,  obey  for  a  page  and  a  half,  and  then 
are  oft'  again — how  remarkable  !  Who  has  not  felt 
this  mental  phenomenon,  and  said,  "  How  strange  ! 
I  was  so  resolved,  I  wanted  to  attend,  but  my  mind 
does  so  wander."  Only  consider  these  two  words — 
"/and  my  mind;'"  most  people  think  they  and  their 
minds  are  one  and  the  same  thing,  but  they  seem  as 
different  as  I  and  7ny  dog,  for  my  mind  and  my  dog 
are  equally  prone  to  wander  in  spite  of  me — equally 
run  off  after  any  thing  that  suddenly  breaks  upon  my 
path,  and  evince  an  equal  eagerness  to  chase  any  thing 
but  what  I  prepare  to  pursue.  But  there  is  a  way  to 
make  my  dog  obey  me,  change  his  wandering  nature, 
down  when  I  say  "  down,"  and  pass  without  a  glance 
every  thing  but  the  game  I  choose  to  hunt ;  all  this  I 
can  do  by  gradual  discipline.  Let  every  man  try  and 
resolve  to  make  his  mind  as  tractable  as  his  dog,  by 
the  same  watchfulness  and  judicious  exercise.  He 
must  not  be  severe  with  it,  nor  task  it  beyond  its 
present  powers.  The  dog  will  never  take  the  water 
if  you  begin  by  throwing  him  into  it — use  gentle  en- 
couragement and  avail  yourself  of  each  earliest  indi- 
cation of  maturing  strength — so  may  you  continually 
extend  the  sphere  of  activity,  improve  the  nature  of 
mind  as  well  as  matter,  and,  to  revert  to  my  present 
subject,  promote  the  readers  of  class  the  first  to  class 
the  second,  and,  in  due  course,  to  class  the  third, 
which  I  will  respectively  describe. 

The  second  class  consists  of  those  who  study  bio- 
graphy, or  some  branch  of*natural  philosophy,  who 
desire  to  improve  and  endure  present  toil  for  future 
profit.  Let  us  draw  a  comparison  between  this  and 
the  former  class.  Tales  of  excitement  clo}' — the  ap- 
petite becomes  dull  till  the  bloodiest  of  all  bloday 
murders  does  not  make  us  creep — every  headless 
spectre  at  midnight  resolves  itself  into  a  shirt  and  red 
garters — no  giant  seems  more  than  a  dwarf  after  the 
one  who  had  a  whole  rookery  flying  out  of  his  beard, 
and  every  shipwrecked  crew  are  at  once  foreseen 
either  to  be  divided  among  sharks,  cannibals,  or  else 
made  tnore  comfortable  than  if  nothing  had  happened 
bv  some  home-bound  vessel.  In  short,  every  species 
of  battle,  murder,  and  heroic  exploit  is  soon  familiar, 
and  therefore  the  topics  of  this  my  first  class  of  readers 
are  easily  exhausted.  On  the  other  hand,  works  of 
history,  of  fact  not  fiction,  are  ever  varied  and  ever 
new.  Besides,  they  improve  the  understanding  and 
continually  enlarge  the  sphere  of  interest.  If  the 
first  class  of  students  visit  the  Polytechnicon,  or 
Adelaide  Gallery,  they  will  saunter  about  for  a  few 
hours,  return  home,  and  say,  with  much  composure, 


A   COURSE  Or'  ENGLISH  READING, 


15 


"  Now  they  have  seen  it,"  as  an  unanswerable  argu- 
ment against  seeing  it  again.  A  visitor  of  this  order 
of  intellect  accompanied  me  one  day,  and  the  two 
things  which  made  most  impression  on  his  mind  were 
a  new  bit  for  a  runaway  horse  and  a  ohsiir  for  surgical 
operations.  Nothing  arrested  his  attention  for  a  mo- 
ment but  what  was  already  familiar  to  him.  A  little 
patience  and  exertion  of  mind,  with  the  courage  to 
confess  ignorance  and  ask  questions,  would,  in  many 
instances,  have  increased  his  knowledge  of  principles, 
and  invested  the  mysterious  wheels  in  glass  cases  with 
all  the  interest  of  the  patent  snaffle.  A  little  e.xertion 
did  I  say  ?  that  sounds  very  easy  ;  but  to  be  strictly 
honest  I  must  confess,  that  to  put  an  ordinary  man's 
senses  (so  called  by  courtesy)  out  of  their  usual  way, 
to  make  them  "turn  their  hand  to  something  they 
were  never  brought  up  to,  and  does  not  even  run  in 
their  family" — this  is  more  easily  said  than  done.  A 
few  days  after  I  met  a  young  friend  in  the  Polytech- 
nicon,  who  said  he  had  been  there  every  day,  and 
what  he  saw  in  the  morning  was  a  continual  incite- 
ment to  study  natural  philosophy  in  the  evening : 
thus  his  curiosity  is  no  sooner  satisfied  than  hungry 
again,  and  literally  "  grows  by  what  it  feeds  on."  My 
second  class  of  readers  study  on  the  same  principle. 
Dissertations  on  taxation  and  other  points  of  political 
economy,  which  occasionally  occur  in  history,  to  some 
are  dry  and  profitless  ;  but  they  take  the  first  oppor- 
tunity of  reading  an  article  from  a  CyclopaEdia  on  this 
very  difficulty,  find  it  far  easier  to  understand  than  its 
repulsive  name  led  them  to  expect,  and  ever  after, 
when  they  meet  what  once  only  convicted  them  of 
ignorance,  they  eagerly  grapple  M'ith  it,  assured  of 
all  the  pleasures  of  conscious  superiority  and  improve- 
ment. But  the  third  class  of  readers  are  superior 
even  to  these :  as  the  first  \ike  fiction  and  the  second 
fact,  so  these  like  principle. 

To  examine  into  the  causes  and  consequences  of 
things  is  the  highest  exercise  of  the  human  mind,  and 
attended  with  the  purest  pleasure.  Fiction  delights 
us  for  the  moment  with  imaginary  scenes,  history 
gives  more  lasting  satisfaction  by  the  realities  of  life  ; 
but  the  study  of  principles  or  science  is  like  extract- 
ing the  essence  or  cuUing  all  that  is  profitable  from 
both,  and  laying  it  up  in  a  convenient  form  to  be  ever 
useful,  ready,  and  available.  Supposing  a  man  found 
himself  one  of  many  hundred  servants  in  a  large  fac- 
tory or  house  of  business,  he  would  naturally  desire 
to  know  something  of  the  rise,  progress,  and  future 
prospects  of  the  system  in  which  his  own  prosperity 
was  involved.  Fiction  would  tell  what  things  rnight 
6e-^History  would  tell  what  things  had  been — but 
Science,  in  investigating  the  principles  of  the  system, 
would,  by  comparing  present  with  past,  reveal  what 
things  would  be.  Just  such  a  system  is  the  compli- 
cated machinery  of  human  society  ;  such  servants  are 
its  members,  and  such  is  the  knowledge  which  the 
study  of  principles  can  impart.  Homer's  seer  was  a 
man  deep  in  pririciples  :  "things  which  were  and  had 
been,"  taught  him  "things  to  come." 

Again,  the  subjects  of  the  three  classes  of  readers 
may  be  the  same,  but  each  reads  with  a  different 
purpose,  gathers  a  different  kind  of  knowledge,  and 
exercises  a  different  power  of  the  mind.  The  but- 
terfly flits  over  the  flower-bed  and  stores  up  nothing ; 
the  spider  poison,  but  the  bee  honey.  So  the  lover 
of  fiction  reads  a  novel  for  the  excitement  and  interest 
of  the  story ;  the  lover  of  history  reads  the  same 
novel  to  learn  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  day  ; 
the  lover  of  science  and  principles  to  quicken  his  ob- 
servation, and  increase  his  knowledge  of  the  human 
heart.  And  this  would  suggest  the  remark  that  the 
value  of  every  book,  whether  morally  or  intellectually 
considered,  depends  on  the  object  with  which  it  is 
read.  The  same  volume  may  be  made  to  minister  to 
a  morbid  love  of  excitement,  to  increase  knowledge 
of  the  past,  or  to  aid  a  noble  contemplation  of  the 
present  or  the  future.  The  child  pulls  off  the  lid  of 
the  kettle  for  sport,  the  housewife  for  use  ;  but  young 
Watts  for  science,  which  ended  with  the  improve- 
ment of  the  steam-engine. 


Tastes  and  faculties  differ — all  are  capable  of  im- 
provement— and  with  good  counsel  nearly  all  persons 
may  learn  to  prefer  the  next  highest  to  the  next  low- 
est exercise,  till  the  most  exulted  proves  the  most 
delightful,  and  the  spheres  of  our  dearest  pleasures 
and  of  our  highest  interests  coincide. 

I  will  now  proceed  to  recommend  books  for  each 
class  respectively.  Most  sincerely  do  I  wish  it  were 
in  my  power  to  ensure  that  none  but  the  highest  or- 
der of  works  should  be  read,  or  at  least  that  those  of 
a  lower  kind,  when  read  at  all,  should  be  invested 
with  a  pure  character  by  the  high  purposes  which  their 
readers  aspired  to  promote.  But  to  advise  readers  to 
study  nothing  till  they  feel  a  taste  for  works  of  the 
highest  character,  is  like  saying,  "never  enter  the 
water  till  you  can  swim."  To  hope  to  confine  our- 
selves to  books  pure  and  unexceptionable,  not  only 
in  their  general  tendency,  but  in  every  word  and 
sentiment,  is  like  hoping  to  join  in  none  but  the  purest 
and  most  perfect  society.  So  rigid  a  rule  in  a  world 
like  this  would  lead  to  monkish  seclusion  and  nar- 
rowed faculties,  with  a  better  name,  though  worse 
influence,  than  intercourse  the  most  unguarded  would 
exert.  If  we  may  not  read  Shaksjieare  lest  we  learn 
improper  language,  we  should  not  walk  in  the  streets 
for  the  same  reason  ;  but  the  body  would  suffer  from 
want  of  exercise  in  the  one  case,  so  would  the  mind 
in  the  other. 

The  first  and  most  numerou-5  class  of  readers, 
whose  chief  object  is  rather  present  amusement  than 
future  profit,  should,  of  course,  when  tv/o  books  are 
equal  in  interest,  make  choice  of  that  which  is  more 
improving.  Therefore  one  rule  for  a  choice  of  books 
is  to  prefer  those  which  almost  f<ll  well-informed  per- 
sons are  presumed  to  know,  and  which  therelbre  must 
frequently  furnish  apt  sayings  to  quote,  and  positions 
to  illustrate,  "^sop's  Fables,"  the  "Arabian 
Nights,"'  "  Robinson  Crusoe,"  the  "  Waverley  No- 
vels," and  plays  of  Shakspeare,  "  Don  Quixote,"  the 
"  Pilgrim's  Progress,"  "Goldsmith's  Vicar  of  Wake- 
field" and  "  Deserted  Village,"  "  Gray's  Elegy,"  are 
all  so  commonly  alluded  to,  that  not  to  know  them 
would  render  us  greatly  at  a  loss,  almost  every  time 
we  read  a  newspaper,  enter  a  picture  gallery,  or  con- 
verse with  a  man  of  ordinary  fertility  of  mind. 

These  books  serve  as  a  common  measure  or  stan- 
dard in  society  for  the  easy  interchange  of  thought. 
Quixotic,  for  instance,  is  quite  a  common  word.  Al- 
lusion to  vivid  scenes  and  leading  principles  in  these 
works  serves  for  the  transfer  of  ideas,  just  as  letters 
of  credit  for  the  transfer  of  money  ;  a  knowledge  of 
this  circulating  medium  gives  all  the  facility  to  con- 
versation, that  quoting  the  rule  in  "  Shelly's  case," 
or  "  Campbell  versus  Johnson,"  gives  to  an  argu- 
ment in  a  court  of  law,  because  they  save  explana- 
tions as  tedious  as  recurrence  to  first  principles. 

To  these  books  add  the  voyages  of  Captain  Cook 
and  Parry,  Basil  Hall's  Travels,  Voyages  to  the 
North  Pole  and  Whale  Fishery,  Soulhey's  Life  of 
Nelson, 2  Gulliver's  Travels,  Scott's  Tales  of  a 
Grandfather,'  Johnson's  Rasselas,  and  Boswell's  Life 
of  Johnson .4 

Here  is  a  short,  but  varied  and  most  comprehensive 
list  for  a  beginning.  I  should  say  for  beginning  your 
choice.  They  may  not  all  suit  the  taste  of  the  same 
reader,  and  I  freely  allow  that  it  is  not  more  pleasing 
than  profitable  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  laying  down  a 
book  you  do  not  like  and  taking  up  another.  More 
than  one  of  these  books  has  formed  the  taste — more 


'  Akabian  Nights,  1  vol.  Svo.  Wardle,  Phila. 

2  Southey's  Nelson,  1  vol.  50  cents.  Harpers' 
Family  Library. 

'  Scott's  Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  the  three 
series,  complete  in  4  Nos.  at  25  cents  each.  Carey  &. 
Hart. 

•*  Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson,  with  notes  by  J. 
Wilson  Croker.  2  vols.  8vo.  A.  V.  Blake,  New  York. . 

JoHNSoNiANA,  consisting  of  Anecdotes  not  contain- 
ed in  "  Boswell,"  in  1-vol.,  with  numerous  illustra- • 
tions.     Carey  &.  Hart. 


16 


A   COURSE   OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


than  one  has  determined  the  fortunes — of  thousands. 
"  Southey'e  Life  of  Nelson,"  said  an  anxious  mother, 
"I  have  put  on  the  top  shelf  out  of  my  boy's  way. 
His  cousin  Harry  sends  home  fine  accounts  of  mast- 
heading, and  in  windy  weather  too.  All  comes  of 
Nelson's  life — the  child  never  thought  of  going  to  sea 
till  that  book  completely  turned  his  head." 

There  is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men, 

Which  taken  at  the  flood  leads  on  to  fortune. 

Bat  Dame  Fortune,  like  other  ladies,  sometimes 
smiles  and  Ei«neiimes  frowns,  tind  certainly  there  is  a 
period  when  the  youthful  mind  is  critically  poised, 
when 

A  breath  may  make  them,  as  a  breath  has  made, 

and  marred  them  too.  The  nursery  game  of  deciding 
professions  by  straws,  long  and  short,  or  the  head  of 
a  stem  of  grass, —  "  tinker,  tailor,  soldier,  sailor,  apo- 
thecary, thief," — very  ridiculou-^ly  but  very  truly  re- 
presents the  feather-weight  which  turns  the  scale  of 
youthful  destiny.  At  this  climacteric  a  hook  of  thrill- 
ing and  all-engrossing  interest  is  really  a  matter  of 
serious  choice.  Such  a  climacteric  is  observable  in 
the  popular  as  well  as  the  individual  character. 
"  The  Beggars'  Opera"  was  long  prohibited  for  fear 
it  should  encourage  pickpockets :  another  book  we 
could  mention,  svhich  an  officer  of  Newgate,  after 
contradiction,  persisted  in  saying  that  Courvoisier  told 
him  suggested  Lord  Russell's  murder;  and  though  it 
has  not  yet  been  prohibited,  still  the  evidence  of  a  jail 
chaplain  of  Liverpool  showed  it  to  be  in  its  form,  both 
of  novel  and  melodrama,  a  shocking  incentive  to  the 
rising  generation  of  thieves.  Sir  David  Wilkie's  pic- 
ture, "  Distraining  for  Rent,"  says  Mr.  Bulwer,  in 
his  "England  and  the  English,"  remained  long  unen- 
graved,  from  an  opinion  it  would  inflame  popular  pre- 
judice against  the  landed  interest.  Books  suggest 
"thoughts,  thoughts  become  motives,  motives  prompt 
to  action.  Man  is  a  complicated  piece  of  machinery: 
hundreds  of  nerves  and  muscles  must  act  and  react 
for  the  slightest  turn  of  the  body ;  yet  the  very  wind 
of  a  word,  a  casual  hint  or  association  can  set  the 
whole  in  motion,  and  produce  an  action — actions  re- 
peated form  habits,  and  determine  the  character, 
fixed,  firm,  and  unalterable  for  good  or  for  evil.  So 
the  delicate  hand  of  a  princess  can  launch  a  man-of- 
war,  and  the  voice  of  a  peasant  bring  down  an  ava- 
lanche. 

The  reason  I  am  desirous  to  give  a  varied  list  is, 
because  there  are  few  books  which  suit  evenj  taste. 
Gray  saw  little  merit  in  Johnson's  Rasselas ;  and 
Johnson  was  equally  blind  to  the  beauties  of  Gray's 
odes.  Burns's  very  popular  song,  which,  he  said, 
was  in  his  best  manner,  "  Scots  wha  hae  wi'  Wallace 
bled,"  was  thought  inferior  both  by  Wordsworth  and 
Mrs.  Hemans.  Dr.  Parr  said  Sir  Walter's  popularity 
would  not  last.  The  poems  of  Ossian,  which  so 
many  have  admired,  Johnson  thought  any  man  could 
write  when  he  once  hit  the  strain  ;  and  Edmund 
Burke  declared  were  intended  to  try  English  gullibi- 
lity. Dr.  Wolcott,  better  knovim  as  Peter  Pindar, 
ridiculed  Dryden's  Alexander's  Feast,  and  maintained, 
in  a  most  humorous  criticism,  that  it  was  positively 
absurd.  While  tastes  and  opinions  on  literary  excel- 
lence so  far  differ  among  the  learned,  I  may  well 
allow  great  latitude  to  the  choice  of  the  youthful 
reader.  I  heard  of  a  clever  Cantab  who  committed 
to  memory  the  Antigone  of  Sophocles,  and  by  an  apt 
selection  of  some  passages,  and  ingenious  wresting  of 
others,  used  to  bring  in  a  line  on  all  occasions,  and 
with  every  quotation  would  expatiate  on  the  art  of 
making  a  little  learning  go  a  long  way,  and  say,  th3t 
this  one  play  of  Sophocles  was  applicable  to  all  the 
purposes  of  life.  One  of  my  college  friends,  famed 
rather  for  sharp  wit  than  sound  learning,  read  one  ob- 
servation in  Niebuhr's'  history  the  same  morning  he 


'Nif.cdhr's  Rome,  translated  by  Hare  &  Thirlwall, 
with  the  additional  lectures,  complete  in  5  vols.  8vo. 
Lea  &  Blanchard. 


contested  Dean  Ireland's  scholarship,  and  had  the 
tact  to  make  this  single  idea  solve  three  separate 
questions.  A  chaplain  of  Hereford  jail  has  given  an 
account  of  an  old  man  seventy  years  of  age,  who  i 
taughthimself  toread  by  comparing  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
which  he  had  in  his  memory,  with  the  printed  cha- 
racters in  the  Prayer  Book.  These  facts  fully  con- 
sidered are  very  encouraging.  "Bad  workmen," 
says  the  proverb,  "  blame  their  tools."  "  A  few  dis- 
ciplined forces,"  says  Addison, ^  "  are  more  efficient 
than  a  much  larger  number  of  undisciplined  men." 
So  a  few  books  may  furnish  very  many  ideas  or  in- 
struments of  thought ;  and  only  a  few  ideas  well  ar- 
ranged and  brought  to  bear  on  one  point  will  clear 
away  difl!iculties  which  a  whole  host  of  disorderly 
powers  would  fail  to  remove.  Show  an  unlettered 
man  a  book,  and  he  will  say,  "  Who  can  remember 
all  those  letters?"  Tell  him  there  are  but  twenty- 
four— he  will  siill  wonder  at  the  words:  say  that  the 
words,  too,  are  limited  in  number,  and  that  a  know- 
ledge of  a  system  of  inflection  and  composition  solves 
many  difficulties,  and  he  will  understand  that  the 
labours  he  reckoned  by  millions  exist  by  tens.  As  with 
words,  so  with  ideas.  In  most  books  they  are  few  and 
far  between.  The  distant  forest  which,  to  the  inex- 
perienced botanist,  seems  to  abound  in  trees,  numerous 
in  kind  and  almost  infinite  in  number,  proves,  as  he 
enters  it,  to  contain  but  one  single  species,  each  branch- 
ing far,  with  widely  expanding  limbs  and  luxuriant 
foliage,  so  that  the  study  of  one  gives  a  knowledge  of 
all.  This  uniformity  belongs  not  only  to  tjie  works 
of  nature  but  also  to  the  devices  of  man.  1  iie  power 
of  recognising  the  old  and  well-known  truth  in  each 
variety  of  garb,  of  stripping  it  of  every  accident  and 
ornament,  studying  it  in  its  simplest  form,  and  then 
investing  and  combining  it  anew,  and  setting  it  up  in 
any  useful  and  efficient  attitude — this  power  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  results  of  human  learning.  The 
intellect  which  has  attained  it  is  in  every  respect  more 
to  be  envied  than  a  memory,  fraught  with  the  most 
varied  stores  of  reading.  The  one  possesses,  but  the 
other  coins.  Butler,  the  author  of  the  Analogy,  said, 
"  Whoever  will  in  the  least  attend  to  the  thing  will 
see  that  it  is  not  the  having  knowledge,  but  the  gain- 
ing of  it,  which  is  the  entertainment  of  the  mind."  In 
every  part  of  life,  the  pleasure  is  in  the  pursuit,  not  in 
the  possession.     And  if 

The  worth  of  any  thing 

Is  just  as  much  as  it  will  bring — 

in  happiness  as  in  m.oney — if  that  is  true  of  the  end 
which  is  said  of  the  means,  then  I  will  deny  that  "  a 
bird  in  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush,"  and  prefer 
"an  estate  in  expectancy"  to  one  "in  possession," 
though  the  worldly  wise  inaintain  the  contrary.  Pur- 
suits of  literature  are  like  the  chase.  Whether  we 
exercise  our  feet  or  faculties,  mount  a  hunter  or  a 
Pegasus,  start  a  fox  or  an  idea,  the  fun  is  over  when 
we  have  run  it  down  or  it  has  "  got  to  earth."  The 
young  men  in  jEsop's  fable  unconsciously  cultivated 
their  vineyard  and  improved  their  own  strength  and 
industry,  while  they  dug  for  an  imaginary  treasure. 
So  many  a  student  is  insensibly  storing  strength  while 
he  seeks  for  knovi'ledge.  The  classical  ma.xifti  to 
fcillovv  nature  is  good  indeed,  when  we  can  only  dis- 
cern what  nature  says  and  fish  up  truth  from  the  bot- 
tom of  the  well,  or  rather  sift  it  from  the  rubbish, 
which,  while  truth  was  yet  upon  the  surface,  vain 
ignorance  heaped  upon  it.  Still,  with  all  the  dark- 
ness and  difficulties  of  man's  benighted  stale  there  is 
an  instinct  he  may  safely  obey,  and  one  which,  both 
in  physics  and  metaphysics,  science, /^/seZy  so  called, 
has  done  much  mischief  in  thwarting.  And  why  is 
not  this  monitor  obeyed?  Too  often,  because  men 
mistake  means  for  ends,  and  aim  at  a  far  less  worthy 
prize  than  they  are  inwardly  prompted  to  pursue. 
This  at  least  is  true  of  my  present  subject — Study, 
and  Curiosity  as  its  guide.     This  instinct  urges  many 


2  Addison's  Wokks,  complete,  3  vols,  8vo.   Harper 
&  Brothers,  New  York. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


17 


a  youth  to  turn  over  and  over  the  same  favourite  tale, 
while  a'host  of  the  usual  advisers  cry  out  "  Waste  of 
time,  pray  read  something  new."  "And  is  he  to 
obey  curiosity  and  inclination  to  this  extent  ?"  Why 
not?  a  book  cannot  continue  to  fix  attention  unless  it 
continue  also  either  to  impart  or  elicit  new  ideas. 
Indeed,  I  think  few  signs  more  promising  than  an 
inclination  to  read  the  same  book  again  and  again.  If 
the  same  passages  continued  to  make  the  same  im- 
pression, the  book  would  be  laid  aside.  If  they  make 
new  impressions,  this  proves  that  the  reader  is  learn- 
ing to  regard  the  same  scenes  at  a  different  angle,  or 
to  shift  the  component  parts,  till  they  form,  like  the 
same  pieces  in  the  kaleidoscope,  a  variety  of  pleasing 
combinations. 

A  distinguished  literary  character  of  the  present  day 
was,  as  his  good  lady  has  told  me,  often  found  during 
his  childhood  lying  on  his  little  bed,  where  none  were 
likely  to  seek  him,  reading  Robinson  Crusoe.  "Only 
reading  Robin — only  Robin,"  was  the  constant  ex- 
cuse for  all  absence  or  idleness,  till  his  friends  augured 
that  the  future  man  would  be  a  very  different  cha- 
racter from  one  who  has  done  much  to  preserve  the 
most  valuable  part  of  English  literature.  Now,  be  it 
observed,  as  a  child  he  was  devoted  lo  one  book.  He 
has  since  been  a  man  of  one  book.  Shakspeare  has 
been  his  favourite  author.  The  rest  of  his  reading  has 
been  determined  by  an  ever  present  desire  to  correct, 
illustrate,  and  restore  every  trace  of  that  immortal 
bard.  His  course  of  studies  being  dictated,  as  we 
have  advised,  by  his  own  curiosity  and  inchnation, 
was  peculiar:  for  instance,  at  the  time  of  Sir  Walter 
Scott's  death,  he  had  not  read  one  of  the  Waverley 
Novels  ;  he  felt  that  they  might  divert  the  current  of 
his  thought,  and  though  he  had  not  the  narrow  views 
of  the  mathematician,  who  laid  down  Milton,  saying, 
"  \yhy,  what  does  it  prove  ?"  he  saw  that  no  modern 
fiction  could  lead  to  the  conclusion  which  he  ever  bore 
in  mind.  We  cannot  too  much  admire  this  constancy 
and  fixedness  of  purpose,  especially  if  we  consider 
how  many  siren  spells  and  luscious  lulling  fruits  there 
are  to  tempt  such  faithful  travellers  from  their  course. 
"But  would  he  not  be  afraid  of  betraying  this  defi- 
ciency in  society  ?"  He  could  find  many  a  precedent  to 
bear  him  out.  Sir  James  Mackintosh  had  not  read 
Shakspeare's  minor  works  when  forty  years  of  age. 
Mr.  Wilberforce  used  to  say  he  would  read  no  modern 
poetry  till  he  was  tired  of  Homer  and  Milton.  Dr. 
Johnson  had  not  read  Othello  when  he  wrote  Irene, 
and  visited  lona  without  seeing  Stafla,  though  the 
Duke  of  Wellington  went  thirty  miles  out  of  his 
march  to  see  Schrivanabalogol,  "the  big  Indian," 
whom  Chantrey  said  he  could  beat.  However,  suffice 
it  to  say,  that  the  reading  of  this  able  writer,  peculiar 
as  it  might  seem,  answered  the  purposes  of  all  study, 
by  making  him  happy  in  his  own  resources,  agreeable 
to  his  friends,  and  useful  to  the  pubhc. 

A  friend,  on  looking  over  these  pages,  now  asks 
me,  "But  is  there  no  danger  that  men  of  one  book, 
however  honourably  we  are  used  to  hear  them  men- 
tioned, should  be  ignorant  of  every  other  subject  of 
conversation  which  does  not  bear  upon  their  favourite 
topics?"  Certainly  the  mind  requires  variety.  Those 
only  are  deserving  either  of  praise  or  imitation  who 
are  men  of  one  book,  in  this  sense,  that  they  pursue 
one  system,  choose  one  class  of  authors  most  suitable 
to  their  own  peculiar  talents,  and  prefer  to  be  very 
sound,  in  a  limited  sphere,  to  being  superficial  in  one 
more  extended.  I  would  recommend  every  young 
man  to  make  choice  of  his  book — Shakspeare,  Mil- 
ton,! Bacon,2  Clarendon,'  Burke,  Johnson's  works,"" 


'  Milton's  Poetical  Wokks,  fine  edition,  2  vols. 
8vo.    Little  &  Brown,  Boston. 

2  Bacon's  Works,  whh  a  translation  of  his  Latin 
writings,  and  a  life  by  Basil  Montagu,  3  vols.  8vo. 
$7  50.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

^  Clakendon's  History  of  the  Rebellion,  in 
2  vols.  8vo.     Smith,  London. 

■*  Dr.  Johnson's  Works,  2  vols.  8vo.  A.  V.  Blake, 
New  York. 

3 


&c..  Conversations  in  Boswell ;  or,  to  those  of  a 
thoughtful  habit,  I  would  say,  take  Butler's  Analogy 
and  lScrmons,5  bind  them  up  in  one  thick  volume,  on 
v.'hich  write  Wisdoji  in  gold  letters,  and  begin  to 
read  it  through  every  New  Year's  Day.  One  ster- 
ling author,  to  call  "  my  book,"  ever  most  conspicu- 
ous and  most  at  hand,  read,  re-read,  "marked  and 
quoted,"  standing  on  the  shelf,  if  not  "alone  in  his 
glory,"  at  least  surrounded  with  pamphlets,  manu- 
scripts, and  authors  to  illustrate  it ;  this  will  do  much 
to  form  the  mind ;  this  will  teach  us  to  think  as  our 
favourite  author  thought,  to  aspire  at  the  same  weight 
of  expression,  purity  of  taste,  loftiness  of  views,  and 
fervency  of  spirit.  This  will  give  a  high  standard  of 
excellence,  chastening  us  with  humility,  while  it  fires 
us  with  emulation.  Since  such  is  the  influence  a  fa- 
vourite author  may  exert,  in  the  choice  of  one  lies  our 
danger  and  our  difficulty.  Our  dilemma  is  this:  time 
only  can  convict  us  of  an  erroneous  choice,  and  time 
forbids  our  error  to  be  rectified.  Yet  man's  doom 
and  duty  both  say  "  persevere."  If  no  prudence  will 
enable  us  to  fix  on  the  most  eligible,  perseverance 
may  make  up  the  difference.  Therefore,  whatever 
author  you  have  fairly  chosen,  after  inward  commun- 
ing and  patient  conference  with  those  you  beheve  beet 
able  to  advise  you,  consider  you  have  taken  as  a  bo- 
som companion,  for  better  or  for  worse,  not  to  be  laid 
aside  without  some  momentous  reason.  So  also  if 
you  choose  a  subject  to  illustrate,  or  as  a  point  to 
which  all  your  leisure  thoughts  may  radiate,  resolve 
that  you  are  in  honour  bound  to  abide  by  your  de- 
cision ;  otherwise  powers  which  were  given  you  to 
vanquish  difficulties  will  be  wasted  in  vain  endea- 
vours to  evade  them.  TIte  one  thing  neiclful,  and  the 
Holy  Volume,  which  teaches  all  things  pertaining 
thereto,  must  now  of  course  be  uppermost  in  the 
thoughts  of  all.  But  since  every  writer  should  con- 
fine himself  to  the  one  deficiency  in  literature  he  pro- 
poses to  supply,  I  shall  content  myself  with  observing 
that  one  of  my  fellow-collegians,  highly  distinguishet! 
both  at  Winchester  and  Oxford,  made  the  Bible  not 
only  the  subject  of  his  serious  meditations,  but  a 
pocket  companion  and  resource  in  his  hours  of  re- 
creation. At  lecture  he  was  frequently  requested  by 
the  tutor  to  assist  him  whh  the  exact  words  of  any 
verse  he  desired  to  quote,  and  rarely  failed  to  excite 
the  astonishment,  and,  I  am  happy  to  add,  in  contra- 
diction to  many  erroneous  impressions  of  college  life, 
the  respect  and  admiration  of  his  fellow-students. 

When  my  pupils  have  read  all  the  books  I  have 
mentioned,  or  all  that  they  have  any  inclination  to 
read,  by  conferring  with  competent  advisers  they  will 
be  at  no  loss  in  choosing  others;  indeed  they  can 
scarcely  want  assistance  ii  they  only  follow  the  dic- 
tates of  their  own  curiosity.  However,  I  will  devote 
one  or  two  pages  to  show  what  books  may  most  suit- 
ably follow  those  on  my  list ;  and  this  I  propose,  not 
only  for  the  value  of  the  books  recommended,  but 
also  to  exemplify  the  principle  of  selection,  and  to 
explain  how  one  book  may  be  said  to  suggest  an- 
other. 

Whenever  we  feel  unusually  entertained  with  a  ' 
work,  it  is  natural  to  inquire  the  name  of  the  author, 
and  what  he  has  written  besides ;  and  though  his 
other  compositions  bear  no  very  inviting  titles,  we 
may  still  hope  that  he  has  made  them  the  vehicle  of 
the  same  order  of  ideas.  Bishop  Berkeley,  as  has 
often  been  observed,  betrayed  the  same  train  of 
thought  in  his  "Thoughts  upon  Tar  Water"  as  in 
his  "  Principles  of  Human  Knowledge."  The  verses 
in  the  celebrated  "Pursuits  of  Literature,"  which 
gives  nearly  a  page  of  satirical  observations  to  each 
fine  of  text,  were  said  by  George  Steevens  to  be 
"  mere  pegs  to  hang  the  notes  on."  And  so  at  the 
present  day,  one  of  Mr.  Colburn's  books,  with  the 
name,  size,  style,  and  letter-press  of  a  novel,  proves 
to  be  the  insidious  form  in  which  science,  poHtical  or 
theological,  is  homceopathically  exhibited  and  dis- 


6  Butler's  Analogy,  1  vol.  ISmo.  A.  V.  Blake, 
New  York, 

b2  \ 


18 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


guised.  Opinions  so  circulated  for  the  most  part  so 
for  nothing ;  like  the  bad  half-sovereign  whicli  the 
Irish  knave  passed  between  two  halfpence. 

Defoe  wrote,  besides  "Robinson  Crusoe,"  the 
"  History  ofthe  Pla^ueof  London,"  in  which  his  fertile 
imagination,  guided  and  assisted  by  a  few  authentic 
incidents,  has  succeeded  in  placing  before  our  eyes  a 
series  of  pictures  nearly  as  vivid  as  that  of  Crusoe 
himself  examining  the  print  of  the  unknown  foot 
upon  the  sand.  You  might  also  be  tempted  to  read 
Defoe's  ghost  story  of  the  appearance  of  Mrs.  Veal, 
prefixed  to  the  second  edition  of  the  English  transla- 
tion of  "  Drelincourt  on  Death,"  as  also  the  "  Life  of 
Defoe,"  in  Sir  W.  Scott's'  prose  works,  (vol.  iv.  p. 
267,)  where  we  have  an  outline  of  the  story,  and  the 
circumstance  that  led  to  its  fabrication.  The  first 
edition  of  the  translation  had  but  an  indifl^erent  sale  ; 
Defoe  ingeniously  contrived  to  render  it  popular,  by 
prefixing  the  story  of  a  ghost  which  appeared,  and 
made  mention  of  it ;  the  strange  consequence  of  which 
was  that  those  who  had  not  been  persuaded  to  read 
Drelincourt  by  any  man  living,  were  yet  persuaded 
by  a  recommendation  from  the  dead.  Drelincourt's 
admirable  work  first  drew  my  attention  as  I  read  an 
allusion  to  the  story  of  Mrs.  Veal,  in  Boswell,  (iii. 
194.)  I  therefore  added  it  to  a  list  of  "  authors  cha- 
racterized and  recommended,"  in  which  I  enter  any 
incidental  notice  of  works  of  interest,  as  I  shall  pre- 
sently describe.  But  I  think  I  hear  some  censorious 
-  reader  say,  "  Why  tell  us  where  to  find  ghost  stories  ? 
Proceed  at  once  to  things  worth  knowing."  This  is 
precisely  the  point  to  which  I  wish  to  show  that  sub- 
jects the  most  trivial  may  be  made  to  tend :  I  was 
going  to  observe  that  Dr.  Johnson,  like  every  one 
else,  till  a  comparatively  recent  time,  was  ignorant 
that  this  story  of  Mrs.  Veal  was  a  fiction,  and  said, 
"  I  believe  the  woman  declared  on  her  death-bed  it 
was  a  lie."  So  a  fabricated  story  had  a  fabricated 
contradiction.  Does  this  supply  no  lesson  as  to  the 
credulity  of  man,  and  the  uncertainty  of  human  tes- 
timony, two  topics  well  worthy  of  a  man  of  reflection 
to  illustrate  ?  What  can  be  more  requisite  as  a  foun- 
dation of  all  learning  than  a  clear  knowledge  of  the 
extent  to  which  human  testimony  has  erred  ;  and 
how  far  favour,  affection,  association,  prejudice,  and 
passions  of  all  kinds  render  man  liable  to  yield  too 
ready  and  too  general  an  assent  to  partial  evidence  ? 
Let  this  subject  be  followed  out  by  readers  of  a  spe- 
culative turn,  and  even  common  stories  and  anecdotes 
will  prove  to  the  reflective  mind  productive  of  no  less 
profit  than  entertainment.  Consider  the  extraordinary 
impositions  which  have  been  practised  in  literature, 
and  the  controversies  to  which  they  have  led — that  of 
Lauder,  for  instance,  in  1747,  who,  by  an  essay  in 
the  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  tried  to  prove  that 
Milton  had  borrowed  from  Latin  authors  of  modern 
date,  and  actually  imposed  on  a  great  many  scholars 
before  he  was  detected  by  Douglas,  afterwards  Bishop 
of  Salisbury,  who  showed  that  passages  which  Lauder 
pretended  to  have  found  in  the  poems  of  Massenius 
and  others,  were  really  taken  from  Hog's  Latin  trans- 
lation of  Paradise  Lost.  Dr.  .Johnson  was  so  far  de- 
ceived as  to  write  a  preface  and  postscript  to  Lauder's 
work.  An  account  of  this  may  be  found  in  Nichols's 
"  Literary  Anecdotes  of  the  18th  Century, "^  a  book 
which  the  reader,  who  has  followed  me  so  far,  will 
find  more  easy  to  take  up  than  to  lay  down.  He  may 
read,  at  all  events,  while  inclination  lasts  and  no 
longer.  This  limit  should  be  particularly  observed 
with  all  books  of  anecdotes,  miscellany,  and  the  mul- 
tifarious reading  which  biography  supplies.  Only,  it 
must  not  be  supposed  that  mere  dipping  into  a  chap- 
ter here  and  there  will  convey  all  the  advantage  of  a 
sound  knowledge  of  the  whole  book ;  but  that  after 


'  Defoe's  Works,  complete  in  one  volume,  8vo. 
London, 1844. 

Scott's  Miscellaneous  Prose  Works,  in  5  vols. 
8vo.  $5.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

2  Nichols's  Literary  Anecdotes  of  the  ISth 
Centory,  6  vols.  8vo.    London. 


gleaning  all  which  interests  us  at  one  time  it  is  wise 
to  reserve  the  rest  for  a  future  occasion,  when  we 
have  a  more  extended  curiosity  to  gratify.  I  do  not 
like  to  hear  a  man  say,  "  Rasselas,  or  the  Vicar  of 
Wakefield,  is  a  work  of  genius,  but  I  have  not  read 
it  since  I  was  young."  Believe  me  the  second  read- 
ing of  a  good  book  is  often  more  profitable  than  the 
first.  "  But  can  there  be  any  use  in  reading  old 
things  over  again  ?"  Certainly  not,  things  really  old. 
But  the  same  truth  has  many  meanings:  it  has  one 
voice  for  the  wise — another  for  the  unwise  :  it  pleases 
the  vacant  mind  by  the  knowledge  it  imparts,  it 
pleases  the  full  and  fertile  mind  by  the  force  it  gathers 
from  numerous  associations,  and  by  calling  forth  new 
ideas,  and  making  mere  shadowy  impressions  dis- 
tinct ;  so  a  good  book,  by  which  I  mean  a  book  true 
to  nature,  whatever  part  of  nature's  works  it  de- 
scribes, may  be  ever  new,  so  long  at  least  as  our  own 
minds  continue  to  collect  new  strength  to  evolve, 
new  images  to  combine,  and  new  powers  to  vary 
them. 

But  to  return  to  the  topic  of  human  testimony,  we 
might  read  the  "Confessions  of  Ireland, "^  who, 
upon  Malone's  suggesting  that  Shakspeare  had  left 
manuscripts,  forged  "miscellaneous  papers  and  legal 
instruments,  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  William 
Shakspeare;"  also  "  Vortigern,  "  a  play,  which  he 
pretended  was  written  by  Shakspeare,  and  which  was 
actually  perfonned  at  Sheridan's  theatre,  and  only 
condemned  by  the  double  meaning  which  Kemble's 
sneer  gave  the  line — 

And  when  this  solemn  mockery  is  o'er. 

Many  in  the  hterary  circles  were  deceived.  Dr. 
Parr  acknowledged  "  the  forgery  beat  him-."  Warton 
said  of  a  prayer  whicii  was  also  among  the  forgeries, 
though  written  ofi'-hand  by  Ireland,  without  time  for 
careful  composition,  and  that  at  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  that  it  surpassed  in  sublimity  any  part  of  our 
Liturgy. 

I  can  only  allude  to  Chatterton,"  who  imposed  on 
many  literary  persons  by  forging  poems,  and  ancient 
records  and  title-deeds,  which  he  pretended  were 
found  in  St.  Mary  Redcliffe  Church  at  Bristol.  It  is 
true  that  Horace  Walpole,  with  the  help  of  Gray  and 
Mason,  detected  the  forgery  ;  but  his  letter  to  Chat- 
terton  proved  he  was  himself  deceived.  Afterwards 
a  line  of  Hudibras  was  discovered  among  this  ancient 
poetry; — still,  considering  this  deception  was  prac- 
tised at  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  that  Johnson  said, 
"It  is  wonderful  how  the  young  whelp  could  have 
done  it,"  Dix's  "  Life  of  Chatterton"  will  be  a  pro- 
fitable source  of  entertainment.  Again,  George 
Psalmanazar,  born  1679,  in  the  south  of  France, 
pretended  to  be  a  heathen  native  of  the  island  of 
Formosa,  and  invented  a  new  language,  which  he 
called  the  P'ormosan,  and  into  which  he  had  the 
boldness  to  translate  the  "  Church  Catechism." 
This  remained  long  undetected  by  the  learned, 
while  his  "History  of  Formosa"  passed  through 
two  editions.  His  "  Autobiography"  is  deserving 
of  credit.  Johnson  said,  "I  scarcely  ever  sought 
the  society  of  any  one,  but  of  Psalmanazar  the  most. 

1  used  to  find  him  in  an  ale-house  in  the  city  :  latterly 
he  lived  as  a  very  good  man,  and  died  a  sincere 
Christian: — his  'Autobiography'  was  a  penitential 
confession." 

On  the  same  topic  of  the  strength  and  weakness  of 
the  human  mind,  we  may  mention  the  controversies 
about  Homer,  "Epistles  of  Phalaris,"  Ossian,  Ju- 
nius,5  Chevalier  D'Eon,  Man  with  the  Iron  Mask, 
"  Voyages  of  Damberger,"  Eliza  Canning,  Johannah 
Southcote,  Mary  Tophts  of  Godalming,  the  Cock- 
lane  Ghost,  and  Jugglers'  Feats,  as  related  by  East- 
ern travellers.  If  any  person  entertains  curiosity  in 
these  matters,  "Sketches  of  Imposture  and  Cre- 

•''  Confessions  of  Ireland,  1  vol.  12mo.    London, 
"i  Chatterton's    Complete  Works,  with   Life, 

2  vols,  small  8vo.     London. 

5  JuNius's  Letters,  by  Woodfall,  2  vols.  8vo. 
Philadelphia. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


19 


dulity,"  in  the  "Family  Library,"  and  Sir  Walter 
Scott's  "  Demonology  and  Witchcraft,"'  will  supply 
abundant  interest. 

"  But  surely  this  is  a  strange  selection."  I  do  not 
name  these  subjects  to  the  exclusion  of  others,  but 
principally  to  show  that  a  youthful  taste  indulged  in 
its  own  caprices  will  involuntarily  lead  to  a  kind  of 
knowledge  available  in  the  season  of  maturer  judg- 
ment. The  preceding  observations  will  also  show 
the  advantage  of  always  bearing  in  mind  one  useful 
subject,  which  every  hour  of  reading  and  reflection 
may  contribute  to  illustrate.  Many  a  mind  has  wan- 
dering thoughts,  which,  as  they  come  unbidden,  de- 
part unregarded,  only  because  one  has  never  thought 
of  hoisting  a  standard  round  which  they  might  rally. 

A  subject  Uke  that  of  Abercrombie,  "  On  the  Intel- 
lectual Powers  and  the  Investigation  of  Truth, "^ 
would  surely  be  a  laudable  employment  for  the  talents 
of  the  greatest  genius  ;  and  would  not  this  course  of 
reading,  childish  as  it  may  seem,  supply  facts  of  an 
order  which  he  would  be  sorry  to  lose  ?  How  often 
have  some  of  these  cases  of  deception  been  cited  by 
the  avowed  enemies  of  our  Gospel  privileges !  Who 
can  say  that  he  may  not  feel  himself  called  upon  to 
give  the  same  serious  attention  to  the  history  of  these 
impostors,  as  Paley,  in  his  "Evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity,"^  has  given  to  the  impostor  Mahomet,  and  for 
the  same  purpose  ? 

Here,  my  friends,  let  me  remind  you  that  from 
"  Robinson  Crusoe"  I  have  wandered  to  the  "  Evi- 
dences of  Revealed  Religion ;"  and  though  I  did  not 
see  the  point  at  which  I  should  arrive,  I  felt  confi- 
dent of  eventually  showing  that,  with  curiosity  or  in- 
clination as  your  guide,  your  route  will  afford  you  no 
le.ss  profit  than  interest,  whatever  be  the  point  from 
which  you  please  to  start.  The  ever-recurring  ques- 
tions, "  Where  is  the  use  of  this  ?"  or  "  the  good  of 
that?"  may  well  be  met  with  the  reply,  that  many 
things  are  eventually  useful,  though  not  immediately 
convertible,  and  that  prudent  housekeepers  say, 
"Keep  a  thing  three  years,  and  you'll  find  a  use  for 
it."  But  I  must  be  careful  not  to  give  up  a  command- 
ing position,  because  it  is  convenient  to  meet  a  feeble 
enemy  on  lower  grounds.  Let  us,  therefore,  remem- 
ber that  a  well-stored  mind  to  which,  as  Herschel 
says,  "a  thousand  questions  are  continually  arising, 
a  thousand  subjects  of  inquiry  presenting  themselves, 
which  keep  his  faculties  in  constant  exercise,  and  his 
thoughts  perpetually  on  the  wing,  so  that  lassitude  is 
excluded  from  life,  and  that  craving  after  artificial  ex- 
citement and  dissipation  of  mind,  which  leads  so  many 
into  frivolous,  unworthy,  and  destructive  pursuits,  is 
altogether  eradicated  from  the  bosom  ;" — let  us  re- 
member, that,  in  such  a  mind,  there  is  a  use,  indeed, 
there  must  therefore  be  some  good  in  whatever  read- 
ing conduces  to  form  it.  This  argument,  I  say,  as- 
serting not  the  sordid  money  reckoning  of  the  hireling 
but  the  enlarged  estimation  of  the  Christian,  who 
values  literature  as  it  lessens  the  temptations  of  earth, 
and  slopes  the  path  of  heaven ;  this  is  the  true  and 
impregnable  ground  of  defence  against  the  sneers  of 
the  friends  of  so-called  utility  and  expediency;  still, 
as  we  exult  in  foiling  insignificant  cavillers  not  only 
on  our  grounds  but  on  their  own,  I  would  ask  them, 
if  they  would  have  seen  the  use  of  Newton's  ponder- 
ing over  a  falling  apple  ;  and  yet  it  raised  his  thoughts 
to  the  laws  which  govern  the  revolution  of  the  planets 
in  their  orbhs.  Would  they  not  have  joined  in  the 
ridicule  of  swing-swangs,  which  did  not  prevent  Ro- 
bert Hooke  from  reviving  the  proposal  of  the  pendu- 
lum as  a  standard  of  measure  since  so  admirably 
wrought  into  practice,  as  Herschel  remarks,  by  the 
genius  and  perseverance  of  Captain  Kater  ?  Would 
they  not  have  joined  in  the  laugh  at  Boyle  in  his  ex- 


'  Scott's    Demonology    and    Witchcraft — Sir 
Walter  Scott's  Prose  Works.    Carey  &,  Hart,  Phila. 

2  Abercrombie   on  the  Intellectual   Powers, 
1  vol.  50  cts.     Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

3  Paley's   Evidences,  1  vol.  8vo.    Kay  &  Bro- 
ther, Philadelphia. 


periments  on  the  pressure  ana  elasticity  of  air,  and 
asked  Watts,  as  I  before  mentioned,  tfte  use  of  play- 
ing with  the  kettle,  and  yet  all  can  see  the  good  of  the 
steam  engine  ?  Then  think  of  blowing  soap  bubbles, 
by  which  the  phenomena  of  colours  has  been  studied; 
to  say  nothing  of  where  could  be  the  good  of  playing 
with  whirligigs,  the  simple  means  by  which,  a  few 
years  since,  a  society  of  philosophers  were  investi- 
gating certain  principles  of  optics,  as  exemplified  in 
the  clever  toy  called  the  Magic  Disk.  A  scientific 
friend,  (an  F.  R.  S.,)  a  short  time  since,  intent  on  geo- 
logical discovery,  sat  down  one  sultry  day,  with  a 
hammer,  to  break  stones  by  the  roadl-side.  A  fel- 
low-labourer, employed  by  the  parish,  looked  on  with 
amazement  till  he  saw  some  fossils  selected  from  the 
heap,  and  then  said,  "  Then,  Sir,  I  s'pose  they  gives 
you  something  for  them ?"  "No,"  said  my  friend, 
"they  don't."  "Then,  what  can  be  the  good  of; 
them?"  This  poor  fellow  was  quite  as  enlightened' 
as  many  intellectual  paupers,  who  when  their  money '" 
is  as  low  as  their  wit  may  break  stones  too. 

So  far  I  have  supposed  that  a  juvenile  taste  has  led 
my  reader  through  a  course  of  study,  which  in  a  note- 
book, of  the  kind  I  shall  presently  recommend  him 
to  keep,  would  stand  thus  : — 

MEMORANDUM  OF  READING. 

Read  "  Robinson  Crusoe,"  which  suggested  "  His- 
tory of  the  Plague,"  and  "  Defoe's  Life,"  by  Scott, 
in  which  was  quoted  Defoe's  "  Preface  to  Drelin- 
court,"  concerning  which  I  consulted  Nichols's  "Li- 
terary Anecdotes." 

Mem. — To  be  read,  Nichols,  again  and  again,  at 
future  periods. 

This  specimen  of  literary  imposition  suggested 
reading  Lauder's,  Chatterton's,  Psalmanazar's,  and 
Ireland's  ibrgeries. 

The  credulity  of  the  wisest  men  was  a  topic  which 
made  me  curious  to  read  "  Sketches  of  Credulity  and 
Imposture,"  as  containing  an  outline  of  all  notable 
instances,  to  which  I  find  so  many  allusions  ;  and  also,: 
Scott's  "Demonology,"  which  I  was  told  gave  ai,' 
common-sense  explanation  of  the  causes  of  super-' 
natural  appearances,  and  other  wonders,  gaining 
credit. 

Query. — Was  Dr.  Johnson  superstitious? 

Mem. — To  read  more  about  the  doctor. 

MEMORANDUM  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 
Learned  the  extent  to  which  fiction  may  resemble 
truth — the  fallibihty  of  human  judgment — that  mer 
of  the  greatest  genius  are  not  above  the  prejudices  of 
their  day.  The  nature  of  evidence — the  many  causes 
which  hinder  the  investigation  of  truth.  To  reac 
about  fallacies,  human  understanding,  laws  of  evi 
dence,  blunders  and  pretensions  of  critics,  with  a  view 
to  illustrate  these  topics ;  to  attend  to  the  historica 
accounts  of  all  popular  deceptions,  criminal  trials,  &c 

These  memoranda  are  recommended  as  aids  t< 
reflection,  and  to  teach  how  to  digest  all  the  know 
ledge  we  acquire.  Remember — "  Heaping  up  infor 
mation,  however  valuable  of  itself,  requires  the  prin 
ciple  of  combination  to  make  it  useful.  Stones  am 
bricks  are  valuable  things,  very  valuable ;  but  the; 
are  not  beautiful  or  usefiil  till  the  hand  of  the  archi 
tect  has  given  them  a  form,  and  the  cement  of  th. 
bricklayer  knit  them  together."'* 

Let  us  now  take,  from  the  list  assigned  to  the  fire 
class  of  readers,  a  second  book,  that  we  may  see  hov 
the  same  method  and  principle  of  combination  ani 
digesting  applies  to  other  amusing  subjects.  Consi 
der  the  "  Travels"  of  Captain  Basil  Hall.  His  thin 
series  gives  a  brief  but  clear  outline  of  the  Histor; 
of  India,  from  the  year  1497,  in  which  the  Portuguea 
discovered  the  route  by  the  Cape  ;  the  formation  o 
the  East  India  Company ;  war  with  the  French ;  th' 


*  Woman's  Mission — one  of  the  greatest  of  a) 
little  books,  founded  on  the  opinions  of  M.  Aimi 
Martin.  I  vol.  12mo.  Wiley  &.  Putnam,  New  York 


20 


A  COURSE  OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


Black  Hole  of  Calcutta ;  Lord  Clive  ;•  Hyder  Ali ; 
Warren  Hastings ;  an  interesting  account  of  the  system 
on  which  British  India  is  governed ;  Tippoo  Saib ; 
Cornwallis ;  Wellesley ;  writers  and  cadets ;  a  most 
interesting  account  of  Bombay  and  the  wonders  of 
Elephants  (Series  ii.  vol.  iii.),  and  Ceylon ;  the  stu- 
pendous labour  of  making  Candelay  Lake  ;  the  vo- 
luntary tortures  of  the  superstitious  Sunnyasses ;  how 
widow  burning  was  abolished  ;  the  immense  tanks ; 
the  "big  Indian"  Shrivanabalagol,  a  statue  seventy 
feet  h\s\h  cut  out  of  a  hill  of  granite  ;  descriptions  of 
canoes^  and  inventions,  strange  habits,  and  customs 
of  a  variety  of  nations.  The  Captain's  "  Travels"  in 
America  are  written  in  the  same  stjde,  equally  com- 
bining amusement  with  instruction.  After  reading 
these  interesting  volumes,  and  following  the  course 
which  I  should  suppose  your  inclination  would  sug- 
gest, your  note-book  would  bear,  as  I  judge  from  my 
own,  the  following : — 

MEMORANDUM  OF  READING. 

Read  Basil  Hall's  "  Travels ;"  mention  of  Warren 
Hastings  ;  suggested  to  read  a  few  pages  of  Miller's 
"  George  III.,"  about  the  impeachment  of  Hastings  ;2 
Burke's  "Speeches,"  recommended  on  the  same 
subject,  and  Nabob  of  Arcot — read  both.  To  see 
more  of  the  meaning  of  "  Charta"  and  "  Company." 
H.  W.  promised  me  that  five  minutes'  reading  in  my 
Cyclopjedia  would  inform  me  ;  also  that  I  might  find 
the  same  by  the  index  to  Blackstone's  "Commen- 
taries"— quite  true  ;  found  much  more  in  Blackstone 
— quite  amusing:  also  found  out  "India"  in  Cyclo- 
paedia, and  had  a  general  view  of  the  whole  subject. 
Hall  observes  Daniell's  Indian  drawings  are  the 
nearest  to  reality. 

Mem. — To  examine  them.  H.  W.  says  the  Mu- 
seum, at  the  India  House  in  Leadenhall  Street,  and 
the  Naval  and  Military  Museum,  near  Whitehall, 
must  be  visited.  Rev.  W.  Ward's  book  on  the  "  Li- 
terature and  Customs  of  the  Hindoos,"  recommended ; 
also  Sir  W.  Jones's  "Letters" — picked  out  a  great 
deal  from  both;  also  from  Robertson's  "Ancient 
India,"  showing  what  was  known  to  the  ancients 
about  India,  and  about  Phoenicians :  advised  to  read 
Ezekiel,  c.  xxviii.  ;  very  curious — about  ancient  com- 
merce and  navigation — Tarshish,  Ophir,  Elath,  and 
Eziongeber,  Palmyra,  Arabians,  Genoese,  and  Ve- 
netians. 

MEMORANDUM  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 
Feel  more  confidence  as  well  as  curiosity  about 
India.  Can  converse  with  and  draw  out  my  Indian 
friends  to  advantage.  Know  more  about  the  inge- 
nuity and  power  of  man.  Must  compare  pyramids, 
railways,  and  Indian  tanks.  Did  not  know  there  was 
so  much  curious  knowledge  in  O.  T.  Begin  to  ob- 
serve the  natural  productions,  customs,  &.c.  of  the 
Book  of  Job.  Read  some  of  the  "Scripture  Her- 
balist" about  the  plants  and  trees;  also  looked  into 
"  Natural  History  of  the  Bible  :"3  surprised  at  finding 
so  many  curious  things  which  never  struck  me  be- 
fore. Herschel's''  proof  of  the  insignificance  of  the 
labour  which  raised  the  great  pyramid,  compared 
with  the  weekly  expense  of  steam  power  in  our 
ifounderies. 

I  should  now  consider  that  I  had  given  my  class 
of  readers  their  full  share  of  attention,  were  it  not 
that,  profiting  by  the  example  of  Moliere,  who  used 
to  judge  of  the  probable  success  of  his  comedies  by 
the  degree  they  excited  the  risible  faculties  of  his  old 
housekeeper,  I  read  these  pages  to  one  of  the  young 


'     •  Life  of  Lord  Cltve.    By  Lockhart,  in  1  vol. 
■Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

2  Wakren  Hastings  and  Lokd  Clive.  See  the 
admirable  reviews  in  "  Macaulay's  Miscellanies," 
included  in  Carey  &  Hart's  "  Modern  Essayists." 

3  Natural  History  of  the  Bible,  2  vols.  Har- 
per &  Brothers,  Philadelphia. 

*  Herschel's  Discourse  on  Natural  History. 
'il  vol.  62^  cts.    Lea  &  Blanchard  Philadelphia. 


friends  for  whose  use  they  are  designed,  and  was  told, 
"  that  it  is  not  so  easy  to  find  the  answers  to  the  va- 
rious questions  which  we  should  like  to  ask  in  reading 
travels ;  for  too  many  authors  assume  that  what  is 
familiar  to  themselves  is  familiar  to  their  readers." 
For  the  express  recommendation,  therefore,  of  the 
over- large  class  of  readers,  whose  wants  were  thus 
happily  brought  before  me,  I  allowed  my  friend  to 
dictate  the  following  questions : — 

First.  How  is  a  reader  to  solve  the  difficulties,  and 
extend  his  knowledge  of  the  subjects,  which  occur  in 
general  reading  ? 

Secondly.  How  are  we  to  prevent  confusion  in 
reading  part  of  a  variety  of  subjects,  or  how  can  we 
possibly  read  enough  of  many  at  the  same  time,  for 
every  incident  to  be  duly  digested  and  assume  its  pro- 
per place  ? 

These  questions  lead  me  to  speak  of  the  use  we 
may  make  of  Cyclopaedias,  Gazetteers,  Biographical 
Dictionaries,  and  other  books  of  reference.  We  just 
mentioned  India;  East  India  Company ;  Clive;  Hast- 
ings ;  Cornwallis  :  Wellesley ;  writers ;  cadets.  On 
each  of  these  heads  you  may  consult  the  "  Penny 
Cyclopaedia, "5  which  excels  all  others  in  the  variety  of 
its  subjects.  You  can  read  each  article,  more  or  less 
attentively,  according  to  the  degree  of  interest  which 
casual  notices  of  those  topics  in  books  or  conversation 
have  excited.  When  you  have  read  them  all,  cast 
your  eye  again  over  the  article  on  India,  and  you  will 
feel  that  the  several  parts  of  your  newly-acquired 
knowledge  have  a  propensity  to  "  fall  in,"  as  the  drill 
sergeants  say,  and  find  their  proper  places  in  the  main 
line  which  this  sketch  of  Indian  history  has  marked 
out.  And  probably  allusions  to  Tippoo  Saib,  Hyder 
Ali,  Brahmins,  Buddhism,  Caste,  and  other  subjects, 
will  lead  you  to  read  the  separate  articles  upon  these 
topics  also,  and  I  will  venture  to  say  you  will  rise 
from  your  studies  with  feelings  of  considerable  satis- 
faction. First,  you  will  feel  that  having  once  mus- 
tered courage  to  plunge  into  the  ocean  of  learning,  if 
you  cannot  swim  all  at  once,  at  least  you  have  ac- 
quired a  sense  of  your  own  buoyancy,  and  discovered 
a  capability  to  learn,  and  so  can  easily  make  a  bold 
resolution  to  try  again  another  day.  When  the  splash- 
ing and  floundering  about  is  all  over  for  the  first  time, 
you  feel  some  confidence  in  holding  up  your  head  in 
the  company  of  others  of  more  enterprising  spirit,  and 
listen  to  catch  a  hint  from  their  progress  and  expe- 
rience. Many  a  boy  would  never  have  learned  to 
swim  had  it  not  been  for  some  companions  who 
tempted  him  just  to  try  one  dip.  Many  a  man  would 
have  gone  through  a  whole  life  subject  to  that  ever- 
recurring  creeping  sertse  of  inferiority,  which  is  the 
every-day  punishment  of  ignorance,  were  it  not  that 
some  reading  companions  led  him  to  take  the  first 
leap,  which  carried  him  so  much  further  than  he  ex- 
pected, that  he  was  emboldened  to  try  a  second,  and 
at  length  to  join  the  busy  thropg,  in  which  powers 
unknown,  because  untried,  made  him  first  and  fore- 
most. With  this  beginning  in  Indian  history,  take 
another  Cyclopaedia,  the  "  Britannica,"^  or  "  Metro- 
politana,"  and  look  out  for  the  same  articles.  Then 
look  for  India  in  a  Gazetteer,  and  the  names  of  men 
in  a  Biographical  Dictionary :  to  the  end  of  these 
articles  are  usually  added  the  names  of  authors  from 
whom  more  information  may  be  derived.  These  may 
be  read,  or  not,  as  you  please.  By  this  method  an 
extensive  selection  may  be  made  in  a  very  short  time. 
Remember,  I  say,  a  collection  of  facts,  for  sound, 
mature,  well-digested  knowledge  is  not  the  growth  of 
a  day :  facts  to  the  mind  are  like  food  to  the  body ; 
whether  either  the  one  or  the  other  shall  assimilate 
and  be  duly  converted  depends  on  the  constitution, 
mental  or  physical.  After  reading  long  histories,  or 
lives  of  distinguished  characters,  most  young  readers 


5  Penny  Cyclop jedia,  now  complete  in  27  vols. 
Knight  &  Co.  London. 

6  Encyclopedia  Brittanica,  7th  edit.  By  Pro- 
fessor Napier.  21  vols.  4to.  Imported  and  for  sale  by 
Carey  &  Hart. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


21 


find  that  they  rise  with  a  knowledge  more  confused 
than  accurate,  and  that  even  certain  plain  and  obvious 
questions,  such  as  the  age  at  which  certain  men  at- 
tained celebrity ;  at  what  times  particular  changes 
happened  ;  what  circumstances  led  to  certain  events, 
and  other  things  of  interest,  escape  observation,  from 
the  many  pages  among  which  the  required  information 
is  interspersed.  These  the  compendious  articles  of  a 
Cyclopaedia,  or  Biographical  Dictionary,  are  pecu- 
liarly suited  to  supply ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  to 
prevent  wandering  thoughts  and  losing  the  thread  of 
the  subject,  I  used  to  find  it  useful  to  read  a  short 
outline  before  I  commenced  a  liic  in  two  or  three 
volumes.  Also,  for  the  most  part,  I  keep  books  of 
reference  at  hand,  and  turn  at  once  to  the  name  of  any 
unknown  person  introduced. 

Again,  magazines  and  reviews  often  contain  concise 
accounts  of  campaigns,  political  questions,  and  the 
present  poHcy  and  interests  of  difi'erent  nations.  Some 
allowance  may  be  made  for  the  political  bias  of  re- 
viewers, still  they  are  as  likely  to  be  fair  in  their  opi- 
nions and  accurate  in  their  facts  as  other  authors. 
Nor  must  we  forget,  that,  with  the  exception  of 
novels,  magazines  are  now  nearly  the  only  channel  by 
which  an  author  can  publish  his  opinions  with  the 
least  prospect  of  remuneration ;  and  therefore  it  is  not 
too  much  to  say,  that  a  store  of  facts,  and  series  of 
reflections,  which  would  have  made  a  plausible  ap- 
pearance in  two  volumes  octavo,  are  often  cut  down 
to  the  length  of  a  single  essay  in  the  "  Edinburgh"  or 
"  Quarterly,"  and  gain  no  little  vigour  from  the 
pruning.  The  chief  value  of  the  magazines  is,  that 
they  give  us  the  benefit  of  the  earliest  information ; 
for  if  other  sources  would  supply  the  same  matter  at 
all,  we  should  probably  have  to  wait  till  all  interest 
had  ceased.  Bacon  says,  that  "reading  makes  the 
full  man,  and  conversation  the  ready  man;"  and 
Johnson  says  of  conversation,  that  it  supphes  only 
scraps,  and  that  we  must  read  books  to  learn  a  whole 
subject:  then  Bacon  goes  on  to  say,  that  "  writing 
makes  the  exact  man,"  meaning  not  the  manual  part 
of  writing,  but  the  arranging  and  digesting  of  matter, 
which  writing  involves.  The  digesting  and  arrange- 
ment of  knowledge  are  two  points  which  should  never 
be  lost  sight  of  by  the  literary  adviser :  so,  while  I 
would  urge  the  advice  of  Bacon  to  the  letter,  and  en- 
courage the  more  practised  student  with  the  old  maxim, 
nulla  dies  sine  lineA  (no  day  without  a  line),  I  would 
further  observe,  that  the  use  of  a  short  compendium 
will  tend  to  that  habit  of  exactness  which  writing 
more  fully  promotes. 

Besides  cyclopaedias,  gazetteers,  biographical  dic- 
tionaries, and  magazines,  there  are  many  other  works 
furnished  like  the  magazines  with  indices,  and  readily 
available  as  books  of  reference.  I  have  already 
mentioned  Blackstone's  "  Commentaries,"  which, 
though  I  cannot  speak  of  it  as  a  work  of  general  in- 
terest to  the  young,  contains,  as  a  glance  at  its  index 
will  show,  many  things  to  solve  questions  which  arise 
in  the  study  of  history.  Again,  biographies  are  »ood 
books  of  reference — about  the  Reformation,  the  lives 
of  Luther,  Knox,  Calvin;  about  the  Methodists, 
Southey's  "Life  of  Wesley;"  about  the  slavery 
question,  "  The  Life  of  Wilberforce  ;"'  about  military 
matters,  the  lives  of  Marlborough,  Sir  T.  Picton, 
Wellington,^  Napoleon  ;3  about  naval  affairs,''  Rodney, 
Earl  St.  Vincent,  Nelson — severally  contain  much 
information,  to  which  an  index  or  table  of  contents 
will  direct.     You  have  only  to  inquire  what  celebrated 

1  Life  of  Wilberforce,  by  his  Son.  2  vols.  Per- 
kins &  Purves,  Philadelphia. 

2  Life  of  Wellington,  by  Maxwell.  3  vols.  8vo, 
splendidly  illustrated.     London,  1843. 

^  Life  of  Nafoleon,  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  in 
Scott's  Prose  Works.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

Life  of  Napoleon,  by  M.  A.  Thiers.  Complete 
in  one  volume  8vo.  Price  $L25.  Carey  &  Hart, 
Philadelphia. 

*  Cooi'er's  Naval  History  2  vols.  8vo.  Lea 
&  Blanchard. 


men  are  connected  with  the  matter  in  question,  or 
were  contemporaneous  with  given  events,  and  you 
will  generally  find  that  their  biographies  contain  their 
opinions,  together  with  such  explanation  or  history  of 
the  subject  as  is  requisite  to  make  those  opinions  un- 
derstood. Of  all  biographies  none  is  so  valuable 
as  a  book  of  reference  as  Boswell's  "  Life  of  Johnson." 
During  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  nearly  every 
conspicuous  character,  or  memorable  incident  of  that 
and  of  many  preceding  ages,  passed  successively  in 
review  before  the  severe  judgment  of  him,  who  was 
confessedly  one  of  the  wisest  of  men,  and  has  been 
faithfully  recorded  by  a  biographer,  of  whom  a  writer 
in  the  "Quarterly"  has  truly  said,  "It  is  scarcely 
more  practicable  to  find  another  Boswell  than  another 
Johnson. "5  The  index  of  Croker's  edition  renders  it 
one  of  the  best  books  of  reference  a  library  can  contain. 

As  to  the  mode  of  so  finding  out  allusions,  avoid- 
ing confusion,  and  solving  other  difficulties  which  will 
occur  in  reading,  I  have  now  given  as  many  hints  as 
I  think  will  be  useful.  Several  other  methods  occur 
to  me,  but  they  are  such  as  fevs'  students  can  follow 
until  they  have  sufficient  experience  to  adopt  the  best 
of  all  methods,  namely,  those  to  which  each  person 
is  prompted  by  a  lively  sense  of  his  own  deficiencies. 
The  only  advice  I  have  to  add  is,  read  on  with  good 
courage  and  full  confidence ;  though  you  wander  lirom 
your  path  for  a  time,  you  will  have  the  more  pleasure 
in  finding  your  way  at  last.  If  you  cannot  remember 
all  you  read,  you  may  learn  at  least  where  informa- 
tion is  to  be  had  when  wanted.  The  next  thing  to 
knowing  the  contents  of  a  book,  is  knowing  the  use 
of  it.  One  of  my  young  friends  again  asks,  "  Does 
all  my  reading  go  for  nothing  ?  I  have  read  many 
books,  but  know  none  accurately ;  still  I  feel  a  sort 
of  confidence  when  their  contents  are  the  subjects  of 
conversation."  Certainly  not  for  nothing:  this  con- 
fidence is  worth  something ;  you  have  gained  at  least 
the  habit  of  reading :  if  you  stop  where  you  are, 
knowledge  without  accuracy  is  hke  an  estate  encum- 
bered with  debt  and  subject  to  deductions  which  may, 
it  is  true,  swallow  up  the  whole.  But  it  is  fair  to 
hope,  on  striking  a  balance,  something  will  remain ; 
or,  even  if  bankrupt  quite,  it  is  well  to  have,  as  they 
say  in  the  mercantile  world,  a  good  connection  and 
habits  of  business ;  in  other  words,  a  general  ac- 
quaintance with  authors,  and  all  the  stores  they  can 
severally  supply,  and  also  habits  of  application  to  be- 
gin again  with  greater  advantage.  So  I  would  con- 
sole my  very  many  young  friends  who  are  in  this 
predicament  with  the  assurance,  that  they  have  pro- 
bably made  a  useful  survey  for  future  operations,  and 
worn  down  so  many  rough  edges,  that,  in  retracing 
their  former  steps,  they  will  have  more  time  to  look 
out  for  objects  of  interest,  and  fewer  obstacles  to 
daunt  their  energies. 

I  trust  I  have  now  said  enough  on  the  general  plan 
and  method  of  study.  I  shall  now  proceed  at  once, 
as  I  promised  many  pages  back,  to  treat  separately 
of  all  the  principal  divisions  of  knowledge,  such  as 
History,  Poetry,  Philosophy,  Theology,  with  re- 
marks on  English  composition,  study  of  languages, 
the  formation  of  habits,  and  other  topics  of  interest. 
Complete  essays  on  these  comprehensive  subjects  are 
not  to  be  expected  from  one  who  addresses  himself 
to  the  young  and  inexperienced  student,  and  whose 
chief  ambition  is  to  be  useful.  The  maxim  of  the 
poet  is  only  fair : — 

"  In  every  work,  regard  the  writer's  end, 
Since  none  can  compass  more  than  they  intend." 

ON  THE  STUDY  OF  HISTORY. 

The  first  glance  at  the  following  pages  might  lead 
my  readers  to  think  I  intended  to  imitate  Dufresnoy, 
who,  after  laying  down  a  course  of  historical  study, 
mildly  added,  "  the  time  required  is  ten  years."  But 
I  stipulate,  readers,  for  no  length  of  labour:  I  only 
request  that  you  will  employ  your  usual  hours  of 
reading,  few  or  many,  with  the  method  here  pro- 
posed and  on  such  subjects  as  suit  the  peculiar  bent 


22 


A   COURSE   OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


of  your  inclination.  Thus  in  one  year  you  may 
achieve  more  than  nineteen  out  of  twenty  of  your 
neighbours  achieve  in  ten  ;  for  at  least  that  propor- 
tion of  the  community  read  without  any  system  or 
definite  object  in  view,  but  carry  on  a  desultory  cam- 
paign like  that  of  the  Greeks  around  Troy,  who,  as 
Thucydides  says,  were  foraging  when  they  ought  to 
have  been  fighting,  or  there  would  have  been  no  ten 
years'  siege.  ''Divide  and  conquer,"  is  a  maxim  in 
one  sense  wise,  in  another  foolish.  Victory  depends 
on  dividing  and  choosing  one  point  of  attack,  but  on 
concentrating  all  our  power  upon  it ;  therefore  the 
following  chapters  contain  many  subjects,  and  each 
subject  several  divisions,  that  every  reader  may  .se- 
lect according  to  his  taste.  On  each  division,  works 
are  recommended  requiring  different  degrees  of  in- 
dustry and  talent,  to  suit  every  capacity;  and,  again, 
the  works  are  so  chosen  and  arranged,  and  accom- 
panied with  such  explanations,  that  every  hour  ex- 
pended shall  bring  its  hour's  worth.  "  The  many- 
aproned  sons  of  mechanical  life,"  of  whom  Burns 
speaks,  may  spend  their  Saturdays'  evenings  accord- 
ing to  these  directions,  and  learn  something  complete, 
with  a  beginning,  middle,  and  end,  in  full  assurance 
that  when  they  have  more  leisure  time  they  may  go 
on  adding  and  enlarging,  without  pulling  any  of  their 
work  to  pieces.  The  university  student  will  find 
standard  works,  and  a  course  of  reading,  sanctioned 
by  the  spirit,  if  not  the  letter,  of  the  first  judges  of 
literary  labour  :  in  twelve  hours  a  week  stolen  from 
his  ethics  or  difierential  calculus,  he  may  attain  a 
considerable  accession  of  that  kind  of  knowledge 
which  will  save  him  from  the  shame  of  being  a  mere 
scholar,  deep  in  the  past  and  ignorant  of  the  present; 
of  that  knowledge,  too,  which  he  could  not  forego 
without  positive  prejudice  to  his  advancement  in  any 
career  of  public  fife. 

I  have  not  the  slightest  fear  that  any  student  worthy 
the  name  will  abandon  the  course  of  reading  here 
recommended  when  once  he  has  fairly  tried  it.  In- 
deed, the  first  step  is  all  I  ask.  Lest  the  diffidence 
natural  to  untried  powers  should  keep  any  one  from 
making  the  trial,  let  me  remark  that  a  clergyman, 
living  not  many  miles  from  the  town  in  which  I  am 
writing,  (Torquay,)  chanced  some  years  since  to  take 
up  a  shilling  book  on  Astronomy  ;  this  served  as  a 
nucleus — as  a  centre  from  which  the  rays  of  his  curi- 
osity shot  forth  on  all  sides :  and  he  is  now  a  man  of 
general  scientific  knowledge. 

Reader,  try  one  book:  choose  it  from  whichever 
you  like  best  of  the  following  divisions  :  read  it  at- 

■  tentively.     Many  a   man  who  at  first  felt  quite  as 
.    much  doubt  of  his  own  capacities  as  you  can  feel,  and 

said,  "Where  is  the  use  of  my  reading'^  little  that  / 
can  do,  what  will  it  be  worth  after  all?"  has  found 
his  energies  expand,  a  first  hook  lead  to  a  second,  and 
a  second  to  a  third,  and  has  been  thankful  for  the 
;,   friendly  hint  which  prompted  his  earliest  eflTorts. 

One  of  my  most   intimate  friends  was    led  by  a 

■  clever  tutor  to  study  Grecian  history  on  the  principle 
here  recommended  by  beginning  with  an  outline,  and 

.    filling  in  by  degrees.     He  was  so  encouraged  by  the 
;    progress  he  made  in  one  subject,  that  he  has  now 
attained,  by  the  same  method,  a  considerable  know- 
ledge of  every  topic  of  which  I  propose  to  treat. 
Reader,  study  one  subject  well.   Did  you  never  hear 
'    the  remark,  "  How  strange  this  man,  so  profound  in 

■  hia  favourite  science,  should  find  time  for  so  much 
else  besides!"     Believe  me,  you  will  find  that  the 

;  habits  of  attention,  method,  reflection,  and  analysis 
which  you  form  in  exhausting  one  of  the  followang 

\    subjects,  will  invest  most  of  the  rest  with  such  attrac- 

;  tions,  that,  even  in  their  deepest  parts,  they  may  rivet 
attention  in  spite  of  the  fireside  prattle,  and  fill  up  any 
spare  five  minutes  while  the  cloth  is  being  laid,  or  the 
tea  drawing. 

I        But  now  for  the  study  of  history,  vvhich  I  will  con- 

;    aider  under  the  following  arbitrary  divisions  : — 

ij  Coi  Great  Britain, 

W  History,  Modern  ^  of  the  Continent,  Colonies;  and 
(of  India,  America. 


of  Rome, 
IT-  ,  K      ■     ^  J  of  Greece, 

History,  Ancient  <^  ^f  ,jjg  Egyptians,  Persians,  and 

other  ancient  nations. 

History  alone,  therefore,  gives  a  choice  of  six 
comprehensive  departments  of  study.  "Divide  and 
conquer,"  that  is,  choose  one  and  master  it,  and  you 
will  have  accomplished,  in  point  of  time  and  labour, 
much  more  than  a  sixth  part  of  the  whole.  You 
would  do  well  to  read  the  lists  of  books  and  direc- 
tions on  all  these  departments  before  you  decide. 
For  your  decision  should  be  deemed  irrevocable, 
otherwise  you  will  be  continually  changing,  in  a  vain 
hope  -of  escaping  the  difficulties  which  really  attach 
to  all. 

First,  let  us  suppose  you  decide  on  a  branch  of  mo- 
dern history,  and  would  begin  with 

THE  HISTORY  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

Your  first  step,  as  I  have  before  observed,  would  be 
to  read  some  History  of  England  through.  A  man 
of  mature  and  disciplined  mind,  long  used  to  laborious 
application,  should  read  Hume,  Smollett,  Miller's 
George  III.,  or  Hughes'  Continuation.  "And  how 
long  would  he  be  in  gaining  a  satisfactory  knowledge, 
such  a  knowledge  as  that  which  Niebuhr  possessed 
of  Gibbon,  when  he  defied  a  friend  to  puzzle  him  from 
the  index  ?"  The  successful  candidates  for  high  uni- 
versity honours,  achieve  nearly  as  great  a  work  as 
"getting  up"  Hume  and  Smollett  in  the  last  month 
preceding  their  examination.  And  since  many  pages 
in  each  of  those  volumes,  which  would  require  the 
greatest  effort  of  memory,  need  not  be  very  accurately 
remembered  by  the  unprofessional  reader,  all  of  the 
above  works  would  be  satisfactorily  perused  in  one 
month's  real  chamber  study.  "Indeed!"  some 
young  lady  will  exclaim,  "  why,  a  ringle  volume  em- 
ployed me  more  than  that  space  of  time."  I  can 
easily  believe  it,  and  will  prescribe  for  your  case  next. 
The  outline  History  of  England  by  the  Society  for 
promoting  Cliristian  Knowledge,  in  140  clear,  lively, 
duodecimo  pages,  is  suited  for  every  man,  woman, 
and  child.  Even  the  hard-headed  scholar  will  find 
this  outhne  useful  to  keep  him  to  points  and  to  give 
one  comprehensive  view  of  the  whole.  Only  let  him 
not  stop  here.  Keightley's  History,  in  2  vols,  duode- 
cimo, or  Goldsmith's,  may  be  read  next.  It  will  be 
easier  slill,  to  read  the  little  History  again  as  far  as 
Henry  VII.,  and  the  rest  in  Keightley  :  next,  read  in 
Hume  any  reign,  w-ar,  or  negotiation,  which  excites 
your  curiosity,  and  so  strengthen  the  stem  of  your 
tree,  as  before  explained,  as  much  as  you  please. 
That  you  may  have  the  satisfaction  of  tracing  its 
gradual  growth,  make  a  memorandum  on  the  simple 
drawing  by  which  this  tree  is  represented,  just  as  the 
works  of  Rapin,  Lingard,'  and  other  narrators  of  the 
same  events  are  wholly,  or  partially,  read,  to  combat 
or  corroborate  the  views  of  Hume. 

So  far  then  you  have  been  instructed  how  to  gain  a 
more  or  less  substantial  outline  of  Enghsh  history: 
and  now,  once  more  I  say,  "  Divide  and  conquer." 
To  strengthen  your  mental  powers,  and  to  multiply 
your  hterary  stores,  so  far  as  to  be  invincible  at  every 
point  of  so  long  a  line,  is  not  much  more  easy,  and 
not  at  all  more  judicious,  than  to  man  the  wall  of 
China.  Like  a  good  general,  be  content  to  concen- 
trate your  forces — to  "divide"  off  and  "conquer," 
first  one  part,  and  then  another.  You  may  be  agree- 
ably surprised  by  finding  that  the  intermediate  parts, 
when  left  by  themselves,  are  less  formidable  than 
they  appear,  and  readily  give  way  as  you  become  a 
more  practised  assailant.  Consider  that  so  far  you 
have  reconnoitred  the  general  face  of  the  country : 


>  Lingard's  History  of  England,  8  vols.  8vo. 

Pi'ice  $10.  _ 

Miss  Halsted's  Life  and  Times  of  Richard  111., 
1  vol.  8vo.  price  SI. 50.     Carey  &  Hart. 

Miss  Strickland's  Queens  of  England,  7  vols. 
12mo.    Lea  &  Blanchard. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


23 


the   next  thing  is  to  select  one  portion  for  a  more 
searching  and  minute  examination. 

The  leading  principles  on  which  you  should  choose 
a  portion  of  history  to  be  made  a  strong  point  for  deep 
study  are,  First,  to  be  guided  by  your  own  taste  and 
curiosity  ;  for  you  will  sail  into  the  wide  ocean  of  truth 
more  rapidly  with  than  against  the  current  of  your 
nature. 

Secondly,  to  choose,  according  to  your  own  neces- 
sities, whatever  will  be  useful  in  business  or  give  you 
confidence  in  society.  As  a  general  rule,  rciul  what 
others  read.  Conversation  is  often  more  improving 
than  books  ;  therefore,  read  to  profit  by  conversation. 
If  you  would  be  improved  by  a  visit  to  Paris,  you 
must  first  learn  French  ;  if  by  a  visit  to  London,  or'by 
joining  any  particular  society,  whether  of  men  of  bu- 
siness, men  of  science,  or  men  of  literature,  you  must 
study,  if  not  the  language,  at  least  the  thoughts  and 
topics  of  such  society.  You  will  otherwise  feel  as 
much  out  of  your  element  as  a  sherifl''s  chaplain  when 
dining  with  tlie  judge  on  his  circuit. 

TkirdUj,  read  subjects  which  afford  most  matter  for 
reflection.  To  be  wise  is  both  the  surest  and  most 
profitable  way  to  seem  wise.  Read  those  subjects 
which  involve  most  principles.  Principles  are  the 
most  handy,  convertible,  portable,  and  prolific  of  all 
species  of  literary  property  ;  therefore, 

Fourthly,  read  one  good  comprehensive  account  of 
a  revolution,  protracted  war,  or  other  ever-recurring 
phaenomena  of  human  society.  Then,  ex  uno  disce 
omnes,  that  is,  gain  so  intimate  a  knowledge  of  one 
that  you  may  anticipate  the  chief  characteristics  of 
all.  This  was  the  secret  of  Edmund  Burke's  attain- 
ments. His  letter  to  Lord  Charlemont  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  French  Revolution,  is  considered 
to  evince  almost  the  power  of  prophecy.  Niebuhr 
had  so  deeply  studied  Roman  history,  that  he  ven- 
tured to  assert,  after  a  lapse  of  about  2000  years,  an 
opinion  of  the  early  constitution  of  Rome  in  direct 
contradiction  to  classical  authorities.  By  the  recovery 
of  some  lost  books  of  Cicero  de  Republica,  his  con- 
clusion was  proved  correct.  One  of  my  friends  was 
assured  by  Niebuhr,  that  before  he  had  read  the  sum- 
mary of  a  lost  decade  of  Livy,  he  wrote  down  the 
substance  of  what  it  contained.  Another  illustration 
of  how  far  a  little  good  intellectual  coin  may  be  made 
to  go,  is  afforded  by  Gibbon,  chap,  x.xxi.,  in  which 
he  conjectures  the  history  of  the  unrecorded  years 
between  the  withdrawing  of  the  Romans  firom  Britain 
and  the  descent  of  the  Saxons. 

These  are  the  leading  principles  on  which  you 
should  select  "a  strong  point"  in  history;  and  on 
which  I  have  selected,  by  way  of  example  and  illustra- 
tion, the  following  portions  : — 

1st,  The  early  history  till  about  the  time  of  the 
Conquest. 

2dly,  The  era  of  the  Middle  Ages,'  including  the 
feudal  system,  chivalry,  and  the  crusades. 

3dly,  The  beginning  of  modern  history,  marked 
by  the  art  of  printing,  the  use  of  gunpowder  and  the 
compass,  the  discovery  of  America,  and  the  deve- 
lopment of  the  colonial  system. 

4lhly,  The  civil  wars. 

5thly,  The  Revolution  of  16S8. 

6thly,  From  the  accession  of  George  III.  to  the  pre- 
sent time. 

I  will  now  consider  these  eras  separately,  and  point 
out  a  course  of  reading  upon  each  :  and, 

First,  Ox  Early  E.volish  History.  This  portion 
will  afford  amusement  to  one  fond  of  antiquities — 
would  cons'itute  a  good  preparation  for  any  university- 
student  going  to  the  bar,  but  is  only  to  be  recom- 
mended to  those  of  mature  understanding. 

Now,  reader,  what  is  your  object  ?  If  you  only 
wish  to  thicken  and  strengthen  the  lower  part  of  your 
historical  tree  by  other  outlines  of  early  history  to 
run  parallel  with  those  already  laid  down,  read  a 


J  Hallam's  Middle  Ages,  1  vol.  8vo.    Harper  & 
Brothers,  New.  York. 


short  sketch  in  Tyiler's  "Universal  History,  "2  vol. 
iv.  "Family  Library:"  also  "the  Romans  in  Bri- 
tain," and  "  The  Anglo-Saxons,"  forming  one  vo- 
lume of  the  "Family  Library:"  to  which  the  more 
voluminous  reader  may  either  add  or  prefer  Turner's 
"History  of  the  Anglo-Saxons, "^  or,  which  is  the 
shortest  of  all,  Hume's  "  Appendix  on  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Government ;"  besides,  or  instead  of  all  these, 
read  Mackintosh's  "History  of  England,"  vol.  i. 
"  Lardner's  Cyclopaedia."  The  very  profound  in- 
quirer may  also  refer  to  the  authorities  quoted  in 
the  foot-notes.  Chalmcr's  "  Caledonia,"  treating  of 
the  Roman  period,  is  recommended  in  Profes.sor 
Smyth's  lectures,*  which  are  well  worthy  the  atten- 
tion of  every  reader  of  modern  history.  But  manjr 
valuable  works,  published  since  1809,  the  date  of 
these  lectures,  remain  to  be  noticed.  On  the  Roman 
period  read  also  Tacilus's  Agricola;  Murphy's  trans- 
lation is  in  almost  every  library,  and  was  recom- 
mended by  Edmund  Burke,  as  one  of  the  best  in  our 
language.  There  are  also  translations  of  Caesar  and 
Suetonius,  which  should  be  consulted.  The  index  or 
summary  will  be  a  ready  guide  to  the  chapters  relat- 
ing to  Britain.  Dr.  Smyth  remarks  that  Gibbon, 
c.  xx.xi.,  supplies  by  ingenious  conjecture  the  history 
of  the  years  between  400  and  449.  On  the  Druids, 
read  the  account  in  "  CtEsar;"  also  a  concise  history 
in  Southey's  "  Book  of  the  Church."  The  history 
which  treats  of  them  most  fully  is  Henry's  "Britain," 
b.  i.  c.  4,  where  we  have  their  history,  manners, 
learning,  and  religion.  For  the  progress  of  religion 
in  those  early  times,  read  Southey,^  Mosheim,^  Mil- 
ner ;  a  few  pages  in  each.  All  the  reasons  for  be- 
lieving St.  Paul  came  to  Britain,  and  the  first  promul- 
gation of  the  Gospel,  aregivenin  "  Peranzabuloe,"  an 
interesting  account  of  an  ancient  church  found  buried 
in  the  sand  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall.  Tytler  recom- 
mends Carte's  "  flistory,"  vol.  i.  b.  iv.  ^  18,  as  con- 
taining an  admirable  account  of  Alfred  the  Great. 
The  "  Encyclopajdia  Britannica,"  "  Metropohtana," 
and  the  "  Penny  Cyclopaedia,"  (which  I  shall  hence- 
forth quote  as  "the  three  Cyclopaedias, ")  also  con- 
tain comprehensive  articles  on  Anglo-Saxons,  Alfred, 
Bede,  Druids.  Those  who  have  access  to  Camden's 
"Britannia,"  to  which  many  of  the  authors  already 
recommended  are  greatly  indebted,  may  satisfy  the 
most  eager  curiosity.  Camden,  in  1582,  travelled 
through  the  eastern  and  northern  counties  of  England 
to  survey  the  country  and  arrange  a  correspondence 
forthesupply  of  further  information.  His  "  Remains" 
of  a  greater  work  on  Britain  was  published  1605. 
Camden's  reign  of  Elizabeth  is  recommended  by 
Hume,  as  one  of  the  best  compositions  of  any  English 
historian.  Leland's  "  Itinerary"  is  also  recommended 
to  the  curious.  Camden  made  great  use  of  it.  In 
the  reign  of  Henry  VII.  Leland  was  empowered  by  a 
commission  under  the  Great  Seal  to  search  for  ob- 
jects of  antiquity  in  the  archives  and  libraries  of  all 
cathedrals,  abbeys,  priories,  &,c.,  and  spent  six  years 
in  collecting  materials  for  the  "Archaeology  of  Eng- 
land and  Wales.  One  volume  of  Lardner's  Cyclo- 
paedia" also  contains  Lives  of  the  chief  characters  of 
our  early  history. 


^  Tvtler's  Universal  History,  2  vols.  8vo. 
B.  B.  Mussey,  Boston. 

White's  Universal  History. — A  new  and  ad- 
mirable work,  in  1  vol.  price  §1.  Lea  &  Blanchard, 
Philadelphia. 

^  Sharon  Turner's  History  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxons,  2  vols.  8vo.  price  84.50.  Carev  &  Hart, 
Philadelphia. 

''  Professor  S.myth's  Lectures  on  History,  with 
notes  by  Sparks,  2  vols.  8vo.  J.  Owen,  Cambridge. 

*  Southey's  Book  of  the  Church.  J.  Murray, 
London. 

^  fi  Mosheim's  Ecclesiastical  Hlstory,  with  addi- 
tions, 3  vols.  8vo.     Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

'  Lardner's  Cabinet  Cvclop.'edia,  in  133  vols. 
12mo.  Longman  &  Co.  London.  Any  of  the  vo- 
lumes supplied  by  Carey  &  Hare  at  $1.75  cts.  each.      % 


24 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


It  will  be  observed  that  I  limit  my  recommenda- 
tions as  much  as  possible  to  books  which  may  be 
easily  procured.  Many  other  works,  quite  as  in- 
structive as  the  preceding,  I  omit,  because  any  reader 
who  attends  to  these  directions  may,  by  a  little  in- 
quiry, ascertain  the  value  oi'  every  work  within  his 
reach.  Almost  all  of  the  above  works  give  their 
authorities,  and  contain  incidental  remarks  on  the 
sources  from  which  more  extensive  information  may 
be  derived. 

To  those  who  have  a  real  love  of  learning,  let  me  ob- 
serve, that  Ingulphus,  secretary  to  William  I.,  wrote 
the  "History  of  the  Monastery  of  Croyland,"  with 
many  particulars  of  the  English  kings  from  664  to 
1091.  William  of  Malmesbury  wrote  most  laudably, 
as  he  said,  "  not  to  show  his  learning,  but  to  bring 
to  hght  things  covered  with  the  rubbish  of  antiquity," 
a  history  of  Old  England  from  449  to  1126;  also  a 
Church  History  and  Life  of  St.  Aldhelm.  All  these 
works  are  accessible  to  every  university  student  and 
readers  in  public  libraries :  as  also  are  those  of  the 
venerable  Bede,  who  early  in  the  eighth  century 
wrote  an  Ecclesiastical  History  by  aid  of  correspond- 
ence, when  there  was  no  penny  postage,  with  all  the 
monasteries  in  the  heptarchy  !  I'here  is  an  Old  Eng- 
lish translation,  besides  that  by  Alfred  in  Saxon.  All 
these  works  have  been  under  the  hand  of  the  com- 
piler and  the  spoiler,  that  is,  as  Bacon  would  say,  the 
moths  have  been  at  them  ;  but  away  with  these  dilu- 
tions and  drink  at  the  fountain. 

The  second  portion  of  English  history  worthy  of 
deep  study  is  what  is  commonly  reckoned 

The  Middle  Ages.  This  comprehends  the  Feudal 
System,  Chivalry'  and  the  Crusades.^ 

This  era  may  be  also  profitably  selected  by  univer- 
sity students  and  men  of  liberal  education.  A  know- 
ledge of  the  feudal  system  is  of  the  first  importance. 
Chivalry  and  the  crusades  must  be  examined  more 
particularly  in  respect  of  their  causes  and  effects  in 
civilization. 

On  the  Feudal  System  read  a  chapter  in  Black- 
stone's  Commentaries,  vol.  i. ;  also  Tytler,  b.  vi.  c.  2 ; 
and  Hume's  second  Appendix.  Dr.  Smyth  strongly 
recommends  the  account  in  Stewart's  View  of  So- 
ciety ;  that  in  Millar's  History  is  also  considered 
good.  Robertson's  Introduction''  to  his  Charles  V. 
is  very  valuable.  Attend  particularly  to  the  proofs 
and  illustrations  at  the  end.  Bacon's  Henry  VII. 
I  can  strongly  recommend  ;  also  part  of  Montesquieu.'' 
My  readers  must  not  take  fright  at  seeing  so  many 
books  on  the  same  subject.  Most  of  my  references 
are  only  to  a  few  pages  out  of  several  volumes,  and 
these  easily  found  by  an  inde.x  or  summary.  Learn 
the  facts  and  arguments  of  one  treatise  thoroughly 
during  hours  of  study,  and  the  rest  will  be  easy 
enough  for  "  hours  of  idleness."  No  light  reading 
rivets  attention  so  much  as  dissertations  on  those  topics 
about  which  study  has  e.vcited  a  spirit  of  inquiry. 

On  Chivalri/,  as  well  as  the  feudal  system  and  the 
crusades,  Hallani's  Middle  Ages  is  of  the  first  author- 
ity. The  very  popular  author,  Mr.  .Tames,  has  writ- 
ten the  History  of  Chivalry,  as  also  the  lives  of  Rich- 
ard I.  and  the  Black  Prince, ^  from  which  much  use- 

'  Mill's  Histouy  of  the  Crusades,  a  new  edition 
in  1  vol.  price  $1.     Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 
2  Mill's  History  of   Chivaluy,   1  vol.  8vo.   $1. 
Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

^  Robertson's  Works — Scotland — India — Ameri- 
ca and  Charles  V.,  3  vols.  Svo.  Harper  &  Brothers, 
_  New  York. 

*  Montesquieu's  Works,  4  vols.  Svo.  London. 
Montesquieu's    Spirit   of   Laws,    2    vols.    Svo. 
I  London. 

s  James's  History  of  Chivalry,  1  vol.  50  cts. 
Harper's  Family  Library. 

Ja:mes's   Life  of  Richard  I.      Langleys,   New 
York. 
James's  Life  of  Edward  the  Bl.ick  Prince,  2 
•-vols.  12mo.  $1.50.     Carey  &  Hart. 


ful  information  may  be  derived.  He  has  also  written 
on  Chivalry  and  the  Crusades.  These  works,  as  well 
as  Horace  Smith's  Tales  of  the  Early  Ages,  combine 
amusement  with  instruction.  On  Chivalry  read  also 
Gibbon,''  ch.  Iviii.  Of  Gibbon  let  me  say  once  for 
all,  that  as  a  man  he  is  guilty  of  having  turned  aside 
from  the  line  of  his  history  to  shake  that  faith  which, 
with  all  his  skepticism  as  to  its  divine  original,  he 
would  have  been  the  last  to  deny  to  be  the  richest 
earthly  blessing.  But  as  a  historian.  Gibbon  is  re- 
garded wth  admiration  by  all  learned  men.  Even 
Niebuhr  praised  the  deepness  of  his  research,  and 
the  clearness  of  his  views.  Blackstone  quoted  him 
with  reverence.  The  accuracy  of  his  facts,  and  the 
sagacity  of  his  conclusions,  are  indisputable.  His 
fault  is  that  he  hints^where  he  should  speak  out.  He 
discussed  the  causes  of  the  spread  of  Christianity, 
though,  as  an  historian,  he  might  have  confined  him- 
self to  the  efi'ects.  Hume,  on  the  period  of  the  Re- 
formation, was  equally  unlikely  to  prove  an  impartial 
writer.  Of  the  Crusades,  a  good  short  account  is 
given  by  Tytler's  Universal  History,  book  vi.  c.  9. 
Read  also  Robertson's  Introduction  to  his  Charles  V., 
and  search  the  notes  and  illustrations  for  more  infor- 
mation. They  give  a  ready  clue  to  the  best  sources 
of  all  matters  relating  to  the  middle  ages.  Lastly, 
read  the  articles  in  the  three  CyclopaBdias,  or  either 
of  them,  upon  the  Feudal  System,  Chivalry,  and  the 
Crusades. 

The  third  portion  of  English  History  to  be  made  a 
strong  point  is, — 

The  Period  of  the  Reformation,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  modern  history. 

On  the  Eefonnation  in  England  read  Southey's 
"  Book  of  the  Church,"  which  is  very  interesting. 
Those  who  have  little  time  may  read  the  small  volume 
on  the  Reformation  in  the  Family  Library.  Consult 
one  or  more  of  the  three  Cyclopcedias.  Dr.  Smyth's 
"  Lecture"  is  very  useful.  Lives  of  the  Reformers 
will  make  a  profitable  variety.  Select  also  the  ap- 
propriate parts  of  Short's  "  Church  History,"  Milner, 
and  Mosheim.  The  labour  will  be  less  than  you 
would  suppose  :  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  nar- 
rative of  one  virtually  exhausts  tho  difficulties  of  all. 
While  these  authors  give  a  true  Protestant  account, 
Lingard's  "History  of  England"  will  show  what  can 
be  said  by  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  Hume's  "  His- 
tory" you  see  the  subject  treated  by  a  man  who  cared 
for  neither  party.  Read  also  Sir  J.  Mackintosh's 
"Life  of  Sir  Thomas  More."  Burnet's  "History 
of  the  Reformation  in  England"'  is  allowed  to  be  a 
very  full  and  authentic  account.  It  was  written  in 
1679,  at  the  times  described  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in 
"  Peveril  of  the  Peak."  For  the  Reformation  in 
Scotland,  compare  Robertson's  and  Scott's  Scotland.* 
Dr.  Smyth  strongly  recommends  the  work  by  Dr. 
M'Crie.  Do  not  omit  the  life  of  Knox.  By  inter- 
spersing biography  with  history  you  quicken  your 
observation,  and  become  familiar  with  the  times. 
These  works,  with  two  or  three  of  the  chapters  of 
Fox's  "  Martyrs, "3  will  make  you  as  perfect  as  the 
best  member  of  the  Church  of  England  can  desire, 
on  a  subject  in  which  our  Gospel  privileges  are  in- 
volved. This  is  a  portion  of  English  History  within 
the  comprehension  of  almost  all  readers.  Those  who 
feel  ashamed  not  to  know  the  politics  of  the  day 
should  blush  to  live  in  ignorance  of  all  that  was  said 
and  done  in  those  spirit-stirring  times,  which  vindi- 
cated the  liberty  of  the  human  soul. 

6  Gibbon's  Rome,  with  notes  by  Milman,  4  vols. 
Svo.    Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

''Burnet's  History  of  the  Reformation  in  Eng- 
land. 4  vols.  Svo,  with  illustrations.  Appleton  &,  Co., 
New  York. 

8  Sir  Walter  Scott's  Scotland.  In  Scott's 
Prose  Works,  5  vols.  Svo.  Carey  &  Hart,  Phila- 
delphia. 

s  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs,  in  1  vol.  Jas.  M. 
Campbell,  Philadelphia. 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


25 


On  the  Times  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  indeed  on  every 
other  period,  consult  the  Pictorial  History  of  Eng- 
land,' especially  for  a  view  of  the  state  of  society. 
Think  of  the  times  when  more  than  70,000  criminals 
were  executed  in  a  single  reign.  Well  may  we  read, 
"the  common  sort  of  people  were  not  much  counted 
of,  but  sturdy  knaves  were  hung  up  apace." 

On  the  Discovery  of  America,  the  most  easy  and 
entertaining  reading  will  be  Robertson's  "America." 
There  are  few  books  in  which  information  is  con- 
veyed in  a  more  interesting  way.  The  ' '  Life  of 
Columbus,"^  in  the  "Family  Library,"  is  worth 
reading. 

Heeren's  •'  Colonial  System  and  Modern  History," 
which  begins  from  the  era  we  are  considering,  is 
chiefly  valuable  to  the  more  profound  readers  of  the 
whole  course  of  modern  history. 

The  fourth  portion  of  English  History  for  extensive 
reading  is 

The  Period  of  the  Civil  Wars. 

You  will  do  well  to  begin  with  Hume's  Charles  I. 
and  the  Commonwealth.  Dr.  Smyth's  "  Lectures 
on  the  Civil  Wars"  will  draw  attention  to  the  lead- 
ing points,  and  direct  your  reading.  Then  the  prac- 
tised student  will  take  Clarendon's  "  Rebellion." 
Sir  Walter  Scott  recommended  it  to  his  son  as  a  book 
replete  with  wisdom,  in  a  style  sometimes  prolix,  but 
usually  nervous  and  energetic.  For  many  readers  it 
is  too  long ;  but  since  its  author  combined  a  power 
of  striking  portraiture,  and  an  intimate  knowledge  of 
the  human  heart,  with  deep  political  wisdom,  and 
since  he  stood  in  a  position  which,  nearly  from  first 
to  last,  gave  a  general  view  both  of  grand  movements 
and  secret  springs  of  action,  the  work  of  this  stanch 
friend  of  church  and  state  is  one  which  no  man  of 
literary  tasle  must  long  delay  to  read.  Harris's 
"  Lives  of  Charles  I.  and  Cromwell"  will  give  the 
views  of  a  Dissenter  and  a  Republican.  The  notes 
to  these  lives  show  great  research,  and  are  longer 
than  the  text.  Godwin,  in  his  "  Times  of  Charles  I. 
and  the  Republic,"''  follows  on  the  same  side.  Neal's 
"History  of  the  Puritans"'*  is  reckoned  good,  and 
as  fair  as  could  be  expected  from  one  of  their  own 
party.  A  book  of  lighter  reading,  for  variety,  is  the 
volume  in  the  "  Family  Library,"  on  the  "  Trials  of 
the  Regicides."  You  may  also  find  by  the  index,  an 
able  arlicle  on  these  times  in  the  "Edinburgh  Re- 
view." Burnet's  "  Own  Times''^  is  certainly  quite 
what  Dr.  Johnson  termed  it — most  entertaining  chit- 
chat of  a  man  who  went  everywhere,  and  talked  to 
every  one.  The  first  part,  containing  exclusively  the 
result  of  his  personal  observation,  is  the  most  enter- 
taining. "Hudibras,"  with  Grey's  "Notes,"  Dry- 
den's  "  Absalom  and  Achitophel,"^  and  Milton's 
prose  works,  may  be  read  in  connection ;  as  also  Sir 
W.  Scott's  "  Woodstock."  Miss  Aikin's  "  Charles 
I."''  is  very  ably  written.  Short's  "  History,"  as 
well  as  Southey's  "Book,"  will  show  the  state 
of  the  Church.  Read  the  "Memorials  of  White- 
lock,"  a  lawyer  whose  opinion  was  taken  about  ship- 
money,  who  served  in  the  parliamentary  army,  and 
was  appointed  one  ofthe  council  of  state.  Also  "Me- 
moirs of  Hollis,"  who  was  a  playfellow  of  Charles  I. 
in  his  childhood ;    head  of  the  Presbyterian  party ; 


'  Pictorial  History  of  England,  G  vols.  8vo. 
Knight  &.  Co.,  London.    For  sale  by  Carey  &.  Hart. 

2  Life  of  Columbus,  by  Weishington  Irving,  2 
vols.  8vo.     Lea  &  Blanchard. 

Lives  of  the  Co.mpaxions  of  Columbus,  1  vol. 
8vo.     Lea  &  Blanchard. 

^  Godwin's  History  of  the  Commonwealth, 
4  vols.  Svo.     London. 

^  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  2  vols.  Svo. 
Harper  &  Brothers. 

5  Burnet's  Own  Times,  new  edit,  in  2  vols.  Svo. 
with  illustrations.     London. 

6  Dryden's  Works,  2  vols.  Svo.  Harper  &  Bro- 
thers. 

"  Mi.^s  Aikin's  Life  of  Charles  I.,  2  vols.  Svo. 
Lea  &  Blanchard. 

4 


lieutenant  of  the  parliamentary  forces,  and  raised  to 
the  peerage  by  Charlte  II.  The  "  Memoirs  of  Lud- 
low," another  leader  of  the  Republicans,  are  full  of 
interest ;  as  also  are  those  of  Hutchinson.  The 
"  Life  of  Monk"  most  read  is  that  by  Dr.  Gumble, 
his  chaplain,  who  once  served  on  the  Republican,  but" 
afterwards  wrote  on  the  royal  side.  Dr.  Smyth  re-' 
commends  Guizot's  "Times  of  Charles  I." 

These  works  are  quite  enough  to  mention.  All 
memoirs,  or  letters  of  contemporaries,  and  all  work.i 
carefully  founded  upon  them,  deserve  the  notice  of 
readers  who  resolve  to  exhaust  the  whole  subject. 
Lest  my  advice  should  seem  less  luminous  than  volu- 
minous, let  me  assure  my  reader,  that  when  once  he 
knows  the  mere  outline  of  events  accurately,  all  that 
is  valuable  in  letters  and  memoirs  may  be  gleaned 
with  both  ease  and  interest. 

The  fifth  Portion  is  the  Revolution  of  168S. 

Dr.  Smyth's  twentieth  "Lecture,"  vol.  ii.,  will 
serve  as  a  guide,  mark  an  outline,  and  quicken  ob- 
servation. Then  when  Keightley's  "  History"  has 
given  an  accurate  knowledge  ofthe  course  of  events, 
Ward's  "  Essay"  will  tell  you  all  that  can  be  urged 
in  support  of  every  theory:  the  opinions  of  Black- 
stone,  Mackintosh,  Hallam,  and  Russell  are  concisely 
stated  and  considered.  Burke's  opinion  will  be  found 
in  his  "  Letters  on  the  French  Revolution."  If  Dr. 
Price's  "  Sermon  on  Love  of  Country"  falls  in  your 
way,  remember  it  is  often  quoted,  and  very  clever. 
Burnet's  "  Own  Times"  is  in  favour  of  William,  to 
whom  he  was  chaplain.  The  "Diary  of  the  Years 
1687,  1688,  1689,  and  1690,"  by  Clarendon,  son  of 
the  Chancellor,  is  in  favour  of  James  II.  As  he  was 
averse  to  popery,  he  lost  the  privy  seal,  but  he  would 
not  take  the  oaths  to  William  III.  Sir  D.  Dalrymple, 
much  respected  by  Dr.  Johnson  and  his  circle,  pub- 
lished "  Annals  of  Scotland  to  the  Accession  of  the 
Stuarts,"  recommended  by  Dr.  Smyth,  as  also  are 
the  "Memoirs  of  Sir  J.  Reresby."  Hallam's  "  Con- 
stitutional History"^  should  be  consulted ;  also  the 
"  Stuart  Papers,"  and  many  sets  of  memoirs  and 
letters  of  all  persons  who  lived  in  these  times.  The 
"  Memoirs  of  Evelyn, "^  who  held  office  in  the  reign 
of  James  II.,  are  very  curious.  Belsham,  Tindal, 
Ralph,  who  is  much  recommended  for  detail,  and 
Somerville,  have  written  the  general  history  of  the 
Revolution.  For  more  directions  read  Smyth's  twen- 
ty-second "  Lecture"  on  William  III. 

This  portion  of  history  should  be  studied  by  every 
man  who  would  know  the  constitution  of  his  country, 
or  be  in  any  way  able  to  defend  his  own  principles. 
The  Revolution  of  1688  is  quoted  nearly  as  often  by 
one  party  as  by  another.  Each  party  selects  partial 
facts  to  warrant  conclusions  in  support  of  its  own 
views. 

The  sixth  select  Portion  of  English  History 
extends  from  the  accession  of  George  HI.,  in  1760, 
to  the  present  time. 

Cats  do  not  see  till  nine  days  old.  Boys  and  girls 
attain  nearly  double  that  number  of  years  before  they 
quite  open  their  (minds')  eyes.  At  that  critical  period' 
they  will  only  give  reasonable  proof  of  being  quite 
awake,  if  they  ask  the  time  of  day  and  what  the  peo- 
ple who  were  awake  before  them  are  doing  and  say- 
ing about  the  house  ;  in  other  words,  if  they  ask, 
"  Where  are  we  ?  what  is  going  on?  Let  us  knew 
all  about  the  present,  and  enough  ofthe  past,  to  make 
the  present  intelligible."  For  the  information  of  this 
class  of  inquirers  I  would  recommend  my  si.\th  se- 
lection of  English  historj'. 

Begin  by  reading  this  part  of  history  in  Keightley ; 
then  take  IVIiller's  "  George  III.,"  which  I  have  be- 
fore described.  Select  according  to  your  own  curio- 
sity. The  account  of  each  opening  of  parliament, 
and  the  exact  state  of  parties,  will  amuse  the  deter- 
mined talker  of  politics  and  weary  others.  The  con- 
tents of  each  paragraph  is  given  in  Roman  characters. 


8  Hallam's    Constitutional    History,   3  vols. 
8vo.,  Paris  ed.,  price  S3.75.     Carey  &  Hart. 

9  Memoirs  of  Evelyn,  5  vols.  8vo.     London, 

C 


26 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


so  that  you  may  readily  "read^nd  skip,"  a  practice 
which  I  shall  discuss  presently,  since  Miller  contains 
little  else  ihan  a  continued  epitome  of  the  newspapers, 
it  may  be  read  with  the  same  indulgence.  The 
"  Lives  of  George  IV."'  and  "William  IV."  have 
been  written  on  the  same  principle.  Bind  the  three 
volumes  together,  with  allexible  back,  mark  the  date 
of  the  events  of  each  page  on  the  top,  and  you  will 
thus  have  a  most  ready  and  valuable  book  of  reference, 
with  abstracts  of  public  speeches  and  documents,  be- 
sides trials  and  matters  of  deep  curiosity.  The  other 
continuous  histories  of  George  III.  are,  Belshani's,  to 
the  year  1793,  and  Adolphus's.  Mr.  Ilughes'  "  Con- 
tinuation' '  is  greatly  to  be  recommended.  The  ' '  Life 
of  George  IV.,"  in  three  volumes,  may  be  read  as  a 
novel.  The  "Annual  Register"  is  a  very  valuable 
series  of  records.  It  has  been  written  by  very  able 
men:  Edmund  Burke  wrote  the  historical  parts  for 
tiiirty  years,  beginning  in  1758 ;  and  for  years  after  it 
was  written,  under  his  direction,  by  Ireland.  The 
"  Gentleman's  Magazine"  is  one  of  the  same  kind  of 
authority.  It  afforded  Dr.  Johnson  his  chief  employ- 
ment and  support  in  1738  and  many  following  years. 
The  "Annual  Biography,"  as  well  as  the  "  Edin- 
burgh Review,"  "Quarterly  Magazine,"  and  "Black- 
wood," will  most  pleasantly  and  profitably  supply 
and  strengthen  many  a  link  in  your  chain  of  reading. 
It  were  scarcely  too  much  to  say,  that  if  we  make 
good  use  of  the  cyclopaedias  and  periodicals  above 
mentioned,  we  shall  not  require  many  other  modern 
publications. 

From  Lord  Brougham's  "Statesmen"^  we  may 
gain  a  great  accession  to  our  knowledge  of  later  times, 
of  which  we  will  make  three  subdivisions. 

The  first  extends  from  the  accession  of  George  III.  to 
the  French  Revolution. 

In  this  period  fill  up  your  outline  with  the  "  Annual 
Register"  and  "  Gentleman's  Magazine,"  and  then 
read  the  "  Life  of  Burke  ;"3  that  by  Prior  may  serve, 
but  it  is  not  very  good.  Read  Dr.  Johnson's ' '  Taxation 
no  Tyranny;"  also  his  "Parliamentary  Speeches;" 
positively  his,  for  he  did  not  report  but  composed 
them,  as  you  may  see  in  a  few  most  amusing  pages 
in  Hawkins'  "Life,"  pp.  122 — 129,  quoted  in 
Croker's  Boswell,  i.  169—172.  Read  the  "Life  of 
Washington"'' — one  of  the  shortest  is  that  in  the 
"  Family  Library ;"  also  the  lives  of  Chatham, ^  Pitt, 
Fo.\,  and  Franklin. ^  I  need  not  always  specify  which 
biography  is  considered  best.  Biographical  dictiona- 
ries and  cyclopagdias  often  contain  accounts  of  all, 
though  concisi3.  Do  not  be  dismayed  because  you 
see  works  in  four  or  five  octavos  each  on  your  friends' 
table.  Choose  books  which  you  feel  that  you  can 
remember,  not  those  which  others  read.  Junius'? 
"  Letters"  are  so  often  quoted,  that  you  should  know 
something  of  them.  The  authorship  is  discussed  in 
Brougham's  "Characters,"  vol.  i..  as  well  as  in 
"  Sketches  of  Credulity  and  Imposture."  Read  the 
story  of  the  capture  of  Andre  by  the  Americans,  and 
his  trial  and  execution. 

SccondJj/.  On  the  French  Jxevolutinji  and  the  revo- 
hUio7iarii  v>ar  :  when  you  accurately  know  the  outline 
from  the  general  histories,  read  the  two  first  volumes 
of  "  Scolt's  Napoleon,"'  which  shows  the  long  train 
of  causes  ;  the  "  Life  of  Napoleon"'  by  Scott,  or  that 


'  Ceoly's  Life  of  GEor.GE  IV.  Harpers'  Fa- 
mily Library. 

2  BrvOUGUAM's  Statesmen.  2  vols.  12mo.  Lea  & 
Elanchard. 

3  Life  of  Burke.  By  Prior.  1  vol.    Carey  &.  Hart. 
''  Life  and  Correspondence  of  Washington.  By 

J.  Sparks.     12  vols.  8vo.     C.  Tappan,  Boston. 

5  Lord  Chatha.m's  Correspondence.  4  vols.  8vo. 
London. 

s  Life  and  Correspondence  of  Franklin.  By 
Jared  Sparks.     10  vols.     C.  Tappan,  Boston. 

'  Scott's  Life  of  Napoleon.  1  vol.  8vo.  Price 
$1.     Carey  &  Hart. 


in  the  "  Family  Library, "^  in  two  volumes,  very  con- 
cise and  amusing  ;  parts  of  the  Lives  of  Burke,  She- 
ridan, and  Wilberforce  ;  and  the  life  of  Erskine,  in 
the  "Lives  of  Eminent  Lawyers,"  in  Lardner's 
"  Cyclopaedia"  The  actions  by  sea  are  related  in 
Souihey's  "  Life  of  Nelson,"  and  some  in  the  lives 
of  Earls  St.  Vincent,  Howe,  and  Collingwood  f  and 
the  actions  by  land  in  Southey's  and  Napier's  "  Pen- 
insular War,"'"  the  "Life  of  Sir  T.  Pictoii,"  "  De- 
spatches of  Wellington,""  and  Segur's  "  Napoleon  in 
Russia."'-  You  may  add,  of  course,  memoirs  of  any 
contemporary  public  characters.'^ 

The  third  subdivision  of  this  part  of  history  extends 
from  the  end  of  the  vmr  to  the  present  time. 

The  "Annual  Biography,"  "  Annual  Register," 
and  periodicals,  are  almost  the  only  source  of  infor- 
mation. The  "  Penny  Cyclopaedia,"  and  articles  in 
Chambers'  "Library,"  give  very  late  news:  other 
information  must  be  sought  in  the  latest  memoirs  of 
distinguished  characters. 

The  practice  of  "  reading  and  skipping"  is  so  liable 
to  abuse,  that  I  must  qualify  it  with  a  few  observa- 
tions. Read  with  a  given  object  in  view,  and  skip  not 
all  that  is  difficult,  but  all  that  is  irrevelant.  A  few 
standard  authors  must  be  read  from  end  to  end  ;  but 
the  greater  part  may  be  read  like  a  newspaper  which 
we  search  for  information  on  certain  points,  passing  by 
every  article  unsuited  to  our  peculiar  taste  and  curi- 
osity. Bacon  says,  "Some  books  are  to  be  tasted, 
some  few  chewed  and  digested."  In  any  literary 
pursuit  a  book  serves  us  like  a  guide,  whom  we  leave 
when  he  has  shown  us  what  we  want,  not  at  all 
ashamed  at  not  following  him  to  his  journey's  end. 
Suppose  that  you  wished  to  read  ten  different  accounts 
of  the  Reformation  ;  after  reading  one  attentively,  you 
would  see  at  a  glance  that  a  second  contained  whole 
pages  of  facts  vi'hich  you  already  knew,  and  would 
therefore  skip  unless  you  wished  to  refresh  your  me- 
mory. In  taking  up  a  third  account  you  would  find 
many,  not  only  of  the  facts,  but  of  the  arguments,  the 
same  ;  and  by  the  time  you  had  read  a  fourth  or  fifth 
author,  you  would  look  rather  to  the  table  of  contents 
than  to  the  pages,  and  turn  only  to  the  parts  in  which 
you  expected  more  particulars.  As  a  second  example, 
the  lives  of  Nelson,  Howe,  Earl  St.  Vincent,  and 
others,  I  remarked,  would  give  information  about  the 
British  navy.  Reading  with  this  view,  you  would 
skip  whole  chapters  about  the  wars  in  which  these 
admirals  were  engaged,  if  you  had  read  them  else- 
where, or  intended  to  read  history  at  some  other  time. 
In  corroboration  of  this  advice,  let  me  add  the  follow- 
ing quotations  from  Dr.  Smyth's  "Introductory  Lec- 
ture :" — 

"  This  (method  of  reading  parts  of  books),  it  will 


^  Lockhart's  Ijfe  of  Napoleon.  2  vols.  $1. 
Ilnrpers'  Family  Library. 

9  Life  of  Collingwood.  1  vol.  8vo.  Carvills, 
New  York. 

Frost's  Naval  History  of  the  United  States. 

1  vol.  12mo.     Appleion  &-  Co. 

'"  N/VPier's  History  of  the  Peninsular  War. 
5  vols.  8vo.  With  fifty-five  plates  of  plans  of  battles. 
Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

"  DESrATCHES  OF  THE  DuKE  OF  WELLINGTON.    By 

T.ieiitcnaiu-colonel  Garwood.  12vols.  8vo.  London, 
J.  .Murray. 

'■^  Si^orn's  Napoleon.  2  vols.  18mo.  Harpers' 
Family  L'brary. 

'3  Life  of  IjORd  Eldon,  bv  Horace  Twiss,  Esq., 

2  vols.  8vo.     Price  $3.50.     Carey  &  Hart. 
Walpole's  Letters,  6  vols.     Lea  &.  Blanchard. 
Wraxall's  Posthumous  Memoirs,  1  vol.  Lea  & 

Blanchard. 

Life  of  Napoleon.  By  Thiers.  1  vol.  8vo.  $1.25. 
Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

Thiers'  History  of  the  French  Revolution. 
Complete  in  two  large  volumes  of  upwards  of  1800 
pages.  Price  $1.25.  Carey  &  Hart.  The  cheapest 
and  best  ever  published  on  the  subject. 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


27 


be  said,  is  surely  a  superficial  way  of  reading  history.'" 
Nothing  but  the  impossibility  of  adopting  any  other 
course  would  ever  have  induced  nie  to  propose  to 
students  to  read  books  in  parts  ;  but  huinan  life  does 
not  admit  of  any  other  expedient.  We  must  either 
read  books  of  iiistory  in  this  manner,  or  not  read 
them  at  all.  "  The  more  youthful  the  mind,  the  more 
hazardous  the  privilege  thus  allowed  of  rending  pages 
at  a  glance,  and  chapters  by  the  table  of  contents. 
But  the  mind,  after  some  failures  and  some  experience, 
will  materially  improve  in  this  great  and  necessary 
art — the  art  of  reading  much  while  reading  little." 

Though  I  defend  reading  and  skipping  by  so  high 
an  auihority,  let  me  add,  that  if  any  young  persons 
indulge  in  the  practice  to  evade  difficulty,  and  humour 
idleness  and  caprice,  they  will  be  as  fooli.-h  as  chil- 
dren who  pick  the  plums  out  of  their  cake  :  they  will 
cloy  their  appetite,  and  ever  after  complain  that  what 
is  a  treat  to  others  is  tasteless  and  insipid  to  them. 

The  above  remarks  on  English  history,  being  laid 
before  one  of  the  young  friends  for  whom  they  were 
originally  intended,  drew  forth  two  observations. 
First,  do  not  be  afraid  of  making  it  too  plain  to  your 
readers,  that  all  your  many  lists  of  books  form  one 
long  bill  of  fare  to  suit  all  ages,  appetites,  tastes,  and 
constitutions;  make  it  plain  that  soine  dainties  are  for 
an  acquired  taste,  some  for  the  strong,  others  for  the 
weak  ;  and  that  any  one  person  might  pass  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  before  he  would  undergo  all  the  changes 
of  mind  and  body  requisite  to  enjoy  every  variety  of 
dainty  you  have  set  before  him.  Secondly,  write  one 
short,  easy,  and  amusing  course,  to  leach  a  good  out- 
line of  English  history  to  readers  who,  like  myself, 
have  little  leisure  and  less  industry,  but  are  yet 
ashamed  to  be  ignorant  of  what  others  know. 

Then  read  the  first  sixty  pages  of  the  duodecimo 
"History"  by  the  Society,  which  will  tell  as  much 
as  most  persons  know,  to  the  end  of  Henry  VH.'s 
reign.  Read  Goldsmith's  "  History  of  England  from 
Henry  VHI.  to  George  H.,"  and  the  rest  in  Keight- 
ley's  "  History,"  and  the  three  half-penny  sheet  of 
Chambers'  Journal,  which  gives  the  history  from  the 
accession  of  George  HI.  to  the  present  time.  If  you 
read  this  outline  carefully,  you  will  find  that  there  is 
not  more  than  you  may  accurately  remember ;  and  if 
your  only  ambition  is  to  know  as  much  as  the  average 
of  your  neighbours,  be  sure  that  a  clear  and  unbroken 
outline,  with  every  event  assigned  to  its  proper  time, 
place,  and  persons,  will  give  you  a  greater  command 
than  if  you  possessed  the  confused  and  ill-assorted 
stores  which  form  the  "floating  capital"  of  most 
readers.  In  condescending  to  provide  for  wants  so 
hmited,  I  am  led  by  the  hope  that  you  will  soon  feel 
disposed  to  make  such  outline  clearer  and  broader  by 
knowledge  drawn  from  some  other  sources.  To  keep 
the  outline  of  English  history  ever  before  the  mind,  I 
would  recommend  a  very  clever  and  well-e.xecuied 
chart,  called  "Ford's  Tree  of  English  History." 
With  this  you  may  begin  at  the  root^and  while  you 
read  the  names  of  the  sovereigns,  and  o;ie  or  two  con- 
temporary events  inscribed  on  the  trunk  of  the  tree, 
you  may  try  to  remember  all  the  chief  points,  and 
when  at  a  loss  refer  to  your  books.  The  student 
would  do  well  to  keep  this  or  a  similar  outline,  which, 
with  a  little  ingenuity,  he  may  make  for  himself  on 
each  portion  of  history,  and  cast  his  eye  over  it  every 
time  he  begins  to  read.  This  is  only  like  telling  a 
stranger  in  London  to  look  at  the  map  every  morning 
before  he  sets  out. 

In  the  Second  Division  of  Modern  History  I  find 
it  most  convenient  to  comprehend  a  portion  of  history, 
of  which  the  principal  points  are  the  seven  following : — 
L  The  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire. 

2.  The  Revival  of  Learning. 

3.  The  ReHgious  Wars  in  the  Low  Countries. 

4.  The  Thirty  Years'  War. 

5.  The  French  Revolution. 

6.  The  History  of  America  and  the  West. 

7.  The  History  of  British  India,  and  our  other  Colo- 
nies. 

The  student's  object  will,  of  course,  be  to  learn  an 


outline  of  the  whole,  and  to  gain  a  thorough  know- 
ledge of  one  division.  I  will  assist  him,  as  before, 
with  remarks  on  the  value  of  each  division  separately, 
and  point  out  the  sources  of  information. 

I  would  not  be  understood  to  say,  that  these  seven 
divisions  arc  alone  worthy  of  attention,  still  less  that  I 
attempt  to  name  all  the  authors  which  throw  light  upon 
them,  but  only  that,  with  this  assistance,  any  reader 
can  select  other  portions  of  history,  and  authors  for 
himself  And  this  observation  apphes  to  every  sub- 
ject on  which  I  treat. 

First ,  On  the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Eoman  Empire, 
llie  great  authority  is  Gibbon,  whom  I  have  before 
characterized.  Milman's  edition  is  the  best  for  sound 
readers;  for  those  of  little  leisure,  there  is  a  compen- 
dium of  one  thick  duodecimo.  I  have  also  seen  ad- 
vertised a  Bovvdler  edition,  with  the  dangerous  pas- 
sages left  out.  The  History  of  the  Decline  and  Fall 
is  also  given  in  the  second  volume  of  Lardner's  "  Cy- 
clopeedia."  The  article  in  the  "  Cyclopaedia  Britan- 
nica"  is  very  comprehensive  ;  but  the  best  ol  the  short 
accounts  is  in  Tytler's  "  Universal  History." 

For  an  account  of  Mahomet,' read  his  "  Life"  in  the 
pamphlets  of  the  Society  ibr  the  Difi'usion  of  Useful 
Knowledge ;  and  read  a  little  of  Sale's  Koran, ^  with 
the  introduction.  White's  Bampton  Lectures  are 
quoted  wiih  respect  by  most  writers  on  the  precepts 
of  Mahomet.  Another  valued  authority  is  Ockley's 
History  of  the  Saracens.  Tytler(bookvi.ch.  1.)  writes 
briefly  but  comprehensivelyof  Arabia  and  Mohamme- 
danism. For  the  establishment  of  Christianity  in  the 
Roman  Empire,  read  Tytler  (book  v.  ch.  4) ;  read  also 
ch.  5,  6,  7,  on  the  last  period  of  Roman  History,  and 
to  learn  the  genius  and  character  of  the  Gothic  nations. 
The  Franks,  the  feudal  system,  Charlemagne  and  his 
successors,  the  Normans,  and  the  rise  of  the  secular 
power  of  the  Popes,  are  all  points  of  history  deserving 
attention,  and  most  easily  to  be  learned  from  Tytler 
(book  vi.  ch.  2,  3,  and  4.). 

The  Germans,  their  genius,  laws,  and  customs,  may 
profitably  be  read  in  the*  translation  of  Tacitus's 
"  Germany."  Dr.  Smyth,  in  his  second  Lecture, 
strongly  recommends  Butler  on  the  German  Consti- 
tution. 7'his  lecture  treats  on  the  laws  of  the  barba- 
rians, and  will  serve  as  a  useful  guide  to  University 
students  and  men  whose  minds  are  disciplined  and 
used  to  deep  study.  On  all  of  these  points.  Gibbon 
may  be  consulted  by  means  of  the  index  or  summary. 
"  Then  you  do  not  take  it  for  granted  we  shall  read 
the  whole  ?"  will  be  the  exclamation  of  some  Univer- 
sity student  in  the  ardour  of  his  first  term.  Enter,  my 
good  friend,  the  first  bookseller's  shop,  and  ask  him 
how  often,  in  taking  in  exchange  Gibbon  and  other 
voluminous  authors,  he  has  found  the  leaves  cut  or 
soiled  throughout.  Believe  me,  when  you  have  pass- 
ed from  college  rooms  to  "  lodgings  out,"  and  thence 
after  the  days  when,  from  being  one  of  many  candi- 
dates, (so  called  from  white  cravats  and  white  faces,) 
you  gradually  find  the  i?iathu/t  removed,  the  last  but- 
ton of  your  waistcoat  less  tight,  and  when  you  have 
ceased  to  fancy  yourself  Tityos,  with  something  ken- 
nelling in  your  diaphragm  and  preying  on  your  vitals 
— when,  in  short,  the  sight  of  your  ^^  testamur"  has 
made  you  your.^elf  again,  sent  you  into  the  country, 
and  given  you  time  to  see  that  college  and  college  ways 
and  notions  are  to  the  bachelor  of  arts  what  school 
seemed  to  the  undergraduate, — then,  from  that  time, 
believe  me,  the  leisure  hours  of  life  will  be  found  "di- 
visible with  a  remainder"  by  very  few  sets  of  twelve 
octavos.  So  begin  in  time  ;  do  not  lay  down  a  plan  of 
reading  too  extensive  to  execute  perfectly.  Did  you 
ever  see  a  pudding  mixed?  Well,  the  way  is  this,-j- 
take  first  a  little  flour,  and  then  a  little  water  ;  stir  it 
well,  till  quite  smooth,  then  add  a  little  more,  first  of 
one,  and  then  of  the  other,  stirring  and  mixing,  till 
quite  free  from  lumps;  but  should  you,  in  your  haste, 
throw  in  a  second  handful  of  flour  before  the  first  is 


'  Life  of  Mahomet.     By  Bush.     1  vol.     Harper's 
Family  Library. 
2  Sale's  Koran.    1  vol.  8vo.    London  edition. 


28 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


well  mixed,  all  the  stirring  of  all  the  cooks  that  ever 
delighted  in  perquisites,  will  not  prevent  the  pudding 
from  being  lumpy  and  indigestible.  So  the  food  ot 
the  mind,  like  the  food  of  the  body,  must  have  due 
time  for  each  accession  to  blend,  amalgamate,  and 
digest. 

The  second  division  is  Ihe  Era  of  the  Ecvival  of 
Learning.  Supposing  that  millions  of  guineas  long 
buried  in  some  miser's  garden  were  suddenly  dug  up 
by  country  clowns,  who  little  knew  the  value,  some 
would  be  trampled  under  foot  and  lost,  but  if  one  hun- 
dredth part  were  restored  to  circulation  and  use,  the 
result  would  be  a  sudden  infusion  of  energy  and  emu- 
lation in  all  the  buyers  and  sellers  of  the  village  round. 
Such  was  the  increase  of  spirit  and  activity  which  fol- 
lowed the  sacking  of  Constantinople  by  the  Turks, 
when  though  120,000  MSS.  are  said  to  have  perished, 
yet  many  were  carried  away  by  scholars  to  other  na- 
tions, who  knew  more  of  their  value  than  the  dege- 
nerate Greeks.  This  event  happened  in  the  middle 
of  the  15th  century  ;  but  Dante  and  Wickliffe,  more 
than  a  century  before,  and  then  Petrarch  and  Boc- 
caccio, who  had  exerted  themselves  to  bring  to  light 
the  great  authors  of  antiquity,  the  former  discovering 
the  Epistles  of  Cicero,  the  latter  bringing  Homer  from 
Greece  to  Tuscany,  gave  a  promise  of  the  general  re- 
viving of  learning.  A  knowledge  of  this  momentous 
era  may  be  derived  from  the  beginning  of  Hallam's 
"  History  of  Literature,"'  and  part  of  his  "  History 
of  the  Middle  Ages;"  also  from  two  chapters  of  Gib- 
bon (the  53d  and  66th) ;  from  part  of  Roscoe's  "  Leo 
X."2  and  "  Lorenzo  de  Medici  ;"3  also  from  the  intro- 
duction of  Robertson's  "  Charles  V."  Mosheim's 
"  State  of  Learning  in  the  13lh  and  14th  Centuries," 
is  much  recommended.  Read  also,  especially,  the 
"  Life  of  Petrarch  ;"^  Vaughan's  "  Life  of  Wickliffe  ;" 
Lives  of  Dante  and  Boccaccio,  in  Lardner's  "  Cyclo- 
paedia." Read  Shepherd's  "Life  of  Poggio,"  who 
early  in  the  15th  century  searched  the  monasteries  for 
ancient  MSS.,  and  found  Quintilian,  some  of  the 
speeches  of  Cicero,  besides  Silius  Italicus,  and  many 
of  the  later  writers.  To  these  add  some  account  of 
the  art  of  printing;  and,  for  other  sources  of  informa- 
tion, observe  the  authorities  quoted  by  Hallam  and 
others. 

Doubtless  all  these  sources  have  been  searched,  and 
their  stores  reduced  to  a  portable  and  readily  accessi- 
ble form  by  the  Cyclopaedias  and  Biographical  Dic- 
tionaries ;  for,  as  literature  accumulates,  it  would  be- 
come unwieldy,  were  it  not  that  a  constant  demand 
for  the  gold  without  the  dross  operates  with  general 
literature  as  with  laws  and  statutes;  that  is  to  say,  it 
stimulates  a  supply  of  treatises  and  abridginents, 
which,  like  legal  digests,  contain  enough  for  general 
use,  and  point  out  the  sources  of  deeper  knowledge. 

The  third  division  of  Modern  History,  the  Era  of 
the  Refonniition,  will  cause  me  to  refer  to  some  of  tfic 
authorities  connected  with  the  Reformation  in  Eng- 
land. r\Iilner  and  Mosheim  treat  this  period  in  the 
general  course  of  Church  History.  But  the  one  book 
allowed  to  supersede  all  others  is  the  late  translation 
of  D'Aubisne's  work.^  It  is  written  with  much 
warmth  and  unction  ;  its  great  merit  is,  that  the  chief 
personages  are  allowed  to  speak  for  themselves,  and 
speak  to  their  heart's  content ;  I  can  fancy  D' Aubigne 
in  every  controversy  standing  by  Luther,  and  cry- 
ing, "hear,  hear!"  A  careful  perusal  of  D'Aubigne 
would  be  a  good  antidote  against  papacy :  as  to  the 
talent  of  the  author,  I  would  say  of  him,  as  of 
Boswell,   that  there  have  been  hundreds  of  writers 


1  Hali.am's  History  of  the  Liter.4ture  of  Europe, 
during  the  15th,  16th,  and  17th  centuries.  2  vols.  8vo. 
Harper  &  Brothers.  New  York. 

2  Roscoe's  Leo  X.     4  vols.  Svo.     Philadelphia. 

3  Roscoe's  Lorenzo  de  Medici.  A  new  edition. 
2  vols.  Svo.     $3.75.     Carey  &,  Hart. 

*  C  ajipeell's  Life  of  Petrarch.  1  vol.  Svo.  Carey 
&  Hart. 

5  D'Aubigne's  History  of  the  Reformation, 
1  vol.  Svo.     James  M.  Campbell,  Philadelphia. 


of  far  greater  talent,  who  would  not  have  treated  his 
subject  so  well.  This  book,  when  complete,  will 
contain  about  liiOO  closely  printed  pages  octavo.  In- 
telligent readers,  who  have  not  time  to  read  the  whole, 
will  find  it  easy  to  omit  parts  without  losing  the  thread 
of  the  narrative. 

Robertson's  "  Charles  V.,"  Coxe's  "House  of 
Austria,"  and  two  chapters  of  Roscoe's  "Leo  X.," 
all  bear  on  the  same  subject.  The  history  of  printing 
and  the  revival  of  learning  are  of  course  closely  con- 
nected with  it.  Indeed,  with  all  the  praise  due  to 
Luther  and  his  friends,  we  must  not  presume  that  the 
most  prominent  are  always  the  most  efficient  instru- 
ments in  the  hands  of  Providence.  The  men  who, 
like  Petrarch  and  others,  contribute  to  the  expansion 
of  the  human  mind,  and  thus  lay  the  train  and  pro- 
vide the  fuel,  act  a  part  of  greater  use,  though  less 
self-devotion,  than  those  who,  whatever  be  their  piety 
and  courage,  merely  add  the  spark.  The  considera- 
tion, though  humbling  to  man,  is  no  less  true,  that 
the  barbarism  of  the  Turks  in  disengaging  and  setting 
tree  the  pent-up  spirits  of  Constantinople,  might  not 
have  done  less  service  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  than  the 
never-failing  faith  and  courage  of  those  whom  every 
true  Christian  to  the  end  of  time  must  admire.  The 
truth  is,  God  rolls  along  the  still  untiring  stream  of 
time ;  and  whether  its  surface  is  ruffled,  as  it  were, 
by  a  ripple  or  whirlpool — whether  it  bears  on  its  wide 
bosom  the  curling  leaf  or  rifted  oak — whether  the 
licentious  poets  of  Italy  or  the  faithful  scholars  of 
Germany  are  struggling  in  its  dark  and  mighty  wa- 
ters, still  it  onward  moves,  for  purposes  transcending 
mortal  ken. 

Two  articles  in  the  Edinburgh  Review  of  1842,  one 
on  "  Ignatius  Loyola  and  the  Jesuits,"  the  other  on 
the  "  Port-Royalists,"^  are  well  worth  reading.  "  Phi- 
lip II."  by  Coxe,  and  Grattan's  "  Netherlands,"'' 
will  give  the  most  interesting  account  of  the  religious 
wars  in  the  Losv  Countries,  than  which  there  is  no 
finer  subject  for  contemplation  in  any  part  of  Modern 
History. 

Dr.  Smyth's  Lectures  on  the  Reformation  will  be 
found  very  useful. 

The  Reformation  is  considered  by  Heeren  the  chief 
event  which  marks  the  commencement  of  Modern 
History,  properly  so  called ;  the  other  events  which 
distinguish  it  froin  the  History  of  the  Middle  Ages 
are  the  discovery  of  America,  and  the  consequent 
development  of  the  colonial  system,  the  influence  of 
the  art  of  printing,  and  the  improvement  in  the  art  of 
war  by  gunpowder.  The  era  of  the  Reformation, 
therefore,  will  be  a  good  point  from  which  to  begin  a 
course  of  reading :  this  is  the  era  at  which  Heeren 
commences  his  Jlodern  History,  a  work  I  would 
strongly  recommend  to  the  studious — I  mean,  for  in- 
stance, to  an  under-graduate,  who  wished  to  have  a 
good  plan  of  modern  reading  to  accompany  the  clas- 
sical and  mathematical  studies  of  sixteen  terms  in  the 
seclusion  of  college  rooms. 

The  Thirty  Years'  War  is  well  deserving  the  at- 
tention of  all  who  have  studied  the  Reformation.  The 
detail  of  this  portion  of  history  is  intricate  ;  its  prin- 
ciples and  secret  springs  of  action  give  much  scope 
for  that  reflection  which  distinguishes  the  mere  read- 
ing from  the  study  of  history.  "  The  whole  interval 
of  about  one  hundred  years,  from  the  days  of  Luther 
to  the  peace  of  Westphalia,  must  be  considered  one 
continued  struggle,  open  or  concealed,  between  the 
Reformers  and  the  Roman  Catholics."  This  is  the 
language  of  Dr.  Smyth,  whose  13th  Lecture  will 
afford  considerable  assistance. 

The  most  important  part  of  this  interval  is  the 
Thirty  Years'  War  ;  the  other  parts  are  filled  chiefly 
with  its  causes  and  consequences.  The  best  book 
for  a  commencement  is  the  Life  of  Gustaphus  Adol- 


6  Ignatius  Loyola  and  the  Port-Royalists,  in  the 
Edinburgh  Review.  Included  in  Stephen's  Miscel- 
lanies, in  Carey  and  Hart's  "  Modern  Essayists." 

'  Grattan's  Netherlands,  1  vol.  Harper  & 
Brothers. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


29 


phus,  in  the  Family  Library.  After  this,  read  Coxe's 
"House  of  Austria,"  and,  lastly,  Schiller's  "  Thirty 
Years'  War." 

The  next  division  is  the  period  of  the  French  Revo- 
lution. Mr.  Alison's  work'  is  now  almost  universally 
allowed  to  supply  what  has  long  been  wanted, — a 
general  history  of  the  state  of  Europe  during  these 
momentous  times.  But  Mr.  Alison's  work  is  very 
voluminous,  and,  Uke  all  Ions  histories,  it  should  be 
regarded  as  a  general  view  and  running  commentary ; 
the  judicious  reader  will  yet  desire  to  examine  the 
evidence  of  eye-witnesses,  and  to  weigh  and  compare 
a  variety  of  opinions.  The  true  use  of  books  is  to 
give  facts  and  arguments ;  after  heaving  evidence  and 
counsel  on  both  sides,  every  man  who  reads  to  any 
purpose  will  be  his  own  judge,  and  decide  for  himself. 
The  man  whose  mind  is  stored  only  with  the  conclu- 
sions and  judgments  of  others  is  like  a  man  who  col- 
lects a  set  of  rules  and  measures  which  he  has  not  the 
art  to  apply,  and  at  best  only  can  attain  to  "  truth  in 
the  wrong  place."  Therefore  read  parts  of  Miller's 
"George  III."  from  1789,  for  an  epitome;  then 
either  the  whole  of  Scott's  "Life  of  Napoleon,"  or 
the  first  and  second  volumes,  for  the  causes  of  the 
revolution.  This  was  written  "  in  one  year  of  pain, 
grief,  sorrow,  and  ruin."  It  was  sold  for  18,000Z., 
and,  says  Mr.  Lockhart,  "none  of  the  pamphleteers 
could  detect  any  material  errors."  The  accounts  of 
Mignet,2  Thiers, ^  and  Madame  de  Stael  are  much 
recommended.  The  Memoirs  of  Talleyrand,  Fou- 
che,  La  Fayette,  the  Prince  of  Canino,  and  every 
character  of  the  times,  are  among  the  very  best 
sources.  The  index  of  the  Edinburgh  and  Quarterly 
will  also  be  a  ready  clue  to  the  most  able  dissertations. 
Few  books  relating  to  the  revolution  are  reviewed 
without  serving  as  a  theme  for  an  essay  on  the  times. 
Sydney  Smith,''  in  his  article  on  "  Bentham's  Falla- 
cies,"*  says,  the  use  of  a  review  is  to  give  a  man  who 
has  only  time  to  read  ten  pages  the  substance  of  two 
or  three  octavos.  There  are  of  course  numerous  ex- 
cellent works,  which  it  were  as  little  useful  as  prac- 
ticable to  mention.  My  only  care  is  that  the  few 
works  I  specify  on  each  subject  be  inferior  to  none  for 
a  commencement.  I  would  specify  more  particularly 
Burke's  Letters  on  the  French  Revolution :  this  is  a 
book  which  no  English  scholar  should  fail  to  read. 
Mackintosh's  reply  gives  the  other  side  of  the  ques- 
tion. "The  flow  of  Burke's  language  is  like  that  of  a 
mountain  torrent  rushing  impetuously  down  over 
crags  and  rocks  ;  that  of  Mackintosh  resembles  a 
stream  smoothly  gliding  through  ornamental  grounds. 
Campbell  said,  that  though  the  greater  part  were  lost, 
any  ten  consecutive  sentences  would  show  the  hand 
of  a  master  as  plainly  as  the  genius  of  a  sculptor  is 
discerned  in  the  mutilated  marble  of  Theseus.  If  to 
these  volumes  is  added  the  criticism  of  Alison's  His- 
tory in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  the  reader  will  know 
all  that  he  can  desire  on  this  momentous  question. 
The  French  characters  in  Brougham's  "Statesmen 
of  George  III."  are  well  worth  reading.  Ireland's 
"Last  Seven  Years  of  France,"  from  1815 — 1822, 
is  a  book  of  lively  interest  on  a  very  eventful  period. 
Dr.  Smyth's  second  course  of  Lectures  treats  ex- 
clusively on  the  French  Revolution.  Other  works 
worthy  of  notice  will  be  found  in  my  last  section  of 
English  History. 


'  Alison's  History  of  Europe  during  the  French 
Revolution,  in  4  large  8vo.  vols.   Harper  &  Brothers. 

^Mignet's  French  Revolution,  1  vol.  8vo.  Car- 
vills,  New  York. 

'  Thiers'  History  of  the  French  Revolution, 
2  vols.  8vo,  and  The  Life  of  Napoleon,  by  the  same 
author,  the  whole  complete  in  3  vols.  8vo,  price  $2.25. 
Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

■*  Rev.  Sydney  Smith's  Works,  complete  in  1  vol. 
8vo.  mcluded  in  Carey  &  Hart's  "Modern  Essay- 
ists. 

J  Bentham's  Fallacies,  a  complete  edition  of  the 
Works  of  Jeremy  Bentham,  recently  published  by 
Chambers,  Edinburgh. 


I  Two  subjects  only  remain  to  be  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  modern  history — India,  and  the  rest  of 
our  colonies,  and  America. 

Of  British  India  I  have  before  spoken.  Hall's 
Travels  contain  a  good  epitome  of  its  history.  The 
Cyclopaedias  also  contain  epitomes  more  or  less  con- 
cise, but  each  sufficient  for  general  purposes.  The 
history  of  British  India  in  ilie  "  Family  Library," 
and  a  volume  of  "  Martin's  Colonies,"^  will  also  be 
a  ready  source  of  knowledge.  Either  of  these  works, 
as  well  as  parts  of  Miller's  "  George  III.,"  will  give 
facts,  which,  as  they  cannot  be  known  too  well,  so 
they  cannot  be  taught  too  simply.  But  the  policy, 
principles,  conclusions,  and  connection  of  eflecis  with 
causes,  are  as  much  more  valuable  than  mere  facts, 
as  the  working  and  answer  of  a  sum  is  more  useful 
than  the  mere  stating  and  data  of  the  first  line  :  there- 
fore read  Mills's'^  or  Malcolm's^  "India,"  or  both. 
I  say  both,  because  it  is  little  trouble  to  read  the  second 
treatise  when  you  knoxu  the  first — not  when  you  have* 
merely  read  the  first.  Inexperienced  readers  who 
cannot  readily  grapple  with  books  of  this  kind,  and 
really  k7iow  them,  should  choose  others.  Musicians 
tell  us  to  play  easy  pieces  first,  for  it  will  take  less 
time  to  learn  one-and-twenty  pieces  of  music  if  each 
is  more  difficult  than  the  next  preceding,  than  to  learn 
only  the  one  which  is  most  difficult  without  the  gradual 
discipline  of  the  remaining  twenty. 

The  "  Life  of  Warren  Hastings,"  or  the  article 
upon  it  in  the  Edinburgh  Review  in  1842,9  should  be 
read  in  connection  with  Edmund  Burke's  speeches. 
These  speeches  were  delivered  when  Burke  was 
nearly  sixty  years  of  age  :  his  "  Essay  on  the  Sub- 
Hmeand  Beautiful"'"  was  published  when  he  was  only 
twenty-eight ;  yet  it  has  been  observed  as  very  re- 
markable that  Burke  displayed  far  more  poetical  ima- 
gination in  his  speeches  than  in  this  essay,  written  at 
an  age  and  on  a  subject  better  suited  to  call  forth 
imaginative  powers.  'I'he  name  of  Hastings  will  re- 
mind my  readers  of  the  "enchanting  power"  which 
Pitt  allowed  to  the  eloquence  of  Sheridan  on  Hast- 
ings's trial.  But  the  oratory  of  Sheridan  was  like 
the  music  of  Paganini,  which  died  with  him.  The 
oratory  of  Burke  reminds  us  of  many  a  musical 
genius  who  has  left  the  world  a  written  record  of  that 
harmony  of  soul,  which  he  had  neither  the  voice  nor 
hand  to  express.  Burke's  speeches,  and  indeed  all 
his  writings,  are  what  Thucydides  would  term  Krvjia 
k  ad.  Burke  had  the  same  kind  of  knowledge  of 
what  things  were  natural,  what  artificial,  what  things 
belonged  to  the  individual,  and  what  to  the  species  in 
the  body  politic,  as  a  skilful  physician  possesses  re- 
specting the  human  frame.  As  anatomy  and  practice 
have  taught  the  one,  observation  and  analysis  have 
taught  the  other.  Burke  is  one  of  the  chosen  few, 
who,  like  Thucydides  on  the  plague  of  Athens,  and 
hke  Shakspeare  on  every  subject,  has  shown  that 
what  is  true  to  nature  is  true  always.  Writings  of  this 
class  exactly  exemplify  the  saying  of  the  Wise  man : 
— "  The  thing  that  hath  been,  it  is  that  which  shall  be, 
and  that  which  is  done  is  that  which  shall  he  done." 
And  if  any  man  says,  "See  this  is  new,"  let  him 
look  in  the  writings  of  such  men  as  Burke,  and  he 
will  find  the  case  foreseen,  the  rule  provided,  and  his 
wisdom  forestalled,  and  that  "  it  hath  been  of  old  time 
which  was  before  us."  The  best  of  all  Burke's 
speeches  to  read,  as  Mr.  Prior  in  his  "  Biography" 
observes,  is  that  on  the  Arcot  debts ;  yet  Pitt  and 
Grenville  agreed,  while  it  was  being  delivered,  that  it 
was  making  so  little  impression  on  the  House,  that 
they  need  not  answer  it. 

On  the  ancient  state  of  India,  read  one  volume  by 


fi  Martin's  Colonies,  10  vols.  ISmo.    London. 
■^  Mills's  History  of  British  India,  6  vols,  8vo. 
London.     A  supplement  to  which  is  now  preparing. 

8  Sir  John  Malcolm's  India,  2  vols.  8vo.  London. 

9  Macaulay's  articles  on  Warren  Hastings  and 
Lord  Clive,  in  Carey  &  Hart's  "  Modern  Essayists." 

'"  Burke  on  the  Sublime  and  Beautiful,  1  vol. 
12mo.    Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 
c2 


30 


A  COURSE   OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


Robertson,  with  notes  and  illustrations  referring  to 
other  valuable  writings. 

The  Life  of  Clive'  will  give  much  information  on 
the  events  of  the  last  century ;  while  the  lives  of  Sir 
T.  Munroe  and  Lord  Wellesley  will  give  later  times. 
Heber's  Journal^  is  an  elegant  composition,  of  which 
no  one  would  like  to  remain  wholly  ignorant ;  but  it 
is  principally  valuable  to  the  traveller  in  Hindostan. 
The  same  may  be  said  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington's 
Indian  despatches.  It  is  true  that  every  man  of  the 
least  curiosity  must  prize  a  record  so  suited  to  give 
the  impress  of  the  great  mind  of  its  author ;  still  I 
would  allow  much  weight  to  the  words  of  my  friend, 

Captain  B :    "The   proper  persons  to  buy  the 

Duke's  'Despatches'  are  cadets.  You  cannot  make 
them  a  more  appropriate  present.  Every  man  de- 
serves to  be  cashiered  who  pretends  to  serve  in  India, 
without  reading  till  he  knows  the  contents  of  every 
despatch,  letter,  and  memorandum."  I  will  mention 
.two  other  standard  works — one,  the  work  of  Sir 
Alexander  Burnes  :*  the  second,  the  work  of  the  Hon. 
M.  Elphinstone,  of  which  Sir  R.  Peel  said  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  that  it  was  a  book  of  deep  learn- 
ing, of  the  first  authority,  and  the  latest  information. 
On  America,  read  Robertson's  history  of  the  con- 
quest and  early  settlements,  a  simple  but  deeply  in- 
teresting narrative.  On  the  curiosities  of  Mexico, ■* 
any  catalogue  will  refer  you  to  many  accounts,  with 
prints  showing  memorials  of  the  long-lost  arts  of  a 
most  remarkable  people.  Inquire  also  for  similar 
works  on  Peru  ;  and  examine  the  curiosities  collected 
in  the  British  Museum.  I  lately  saw  a  Peruvian 
mummy  in  Dublin,  at  the  College  of  Surgeons.  Dr. 
Johnson  said,  that  a  man  who  travels  must  take 
knowledge  out  with  him,  if  he  would  bring  know- 
ledge home.  This  is  as  true  of  visiting  collections 
from  foreign  countries,  or  reading  books  which  de- 
scribe them,  as  in  visiting  the  countries  themselves. 
While  reading,  we  should  think  of  things  to  examine 
when  we  visit  a  museum,  and  while  walking  about  a 
museum  we  should  think  of  new  questions  to  be 
solved  when  we  return  to  our  reading.  Catlin's 
work,  illustrated  with  numerous  plates,  on  the  North 
American  Indians,  is  well  worth  perusing  ;  as  also  is 
the  review  of  it  in  the  "  Edinburgh."  Several  simi- 
lar books  have  lately  been  published,  describing  mat- 
ters of  the  greatest  curiosity  in  North  America.  On 
Canada  and  Nevfoundland,  read  Martin's  "  Colo- 
nies" or  articles  in  the  Cyclopaedias.  On  the  United 
States,  Buckingham's  Travels, ^  Stuart's  North  Ame- 
rica, and  Murray's  Travels  in  the  United  States.^ 
Those  who  would  more  detfeply  study  the  political 
machinery  of  the  States  should  read  Miss  Martineau's 
very  excellent  account,  and  Bancroft's  United  States.' 
On  the  Boundary  Question,  read  the  article  in  the 
Quarterly  for  March,  1841,  which  contains  an  intelli- 
gible map  of  the  long  disputed  territory.  There  has 
been  another  article  since  on  the  same  subject.     On 


1  Lockhart's  Life  of  Clive,  1  vol.  Carey  & 
Hart,  Philadelphia. 

2  Heber's  Journal  in  India,  2  vols.  8vo.  Carey, 
Lea  &  Carey. 

'  Sir  Alexander  Burnes's  Travels  in  India, 

2  vols.     Carey  &.  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

Sir  Alexander  Burnes's  Cabool,  1  vol.  8vo.  25 
cents.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

Lt.  Eyres's  Journal  of  a  Campaign  in  Aff- 
GHANI3TAN,  1  vol.  25  ccuts.     Carey  &  Hart,  Phila. 

*  Brantz  Mayer's  Mexico,  1  vol.  with  numerous 
illustrations.     J.  Winchester,  New  York. 

Prescott's  History  of  Mexico,  3  vols.  8vo. 
Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

5  Buckinsham's  Travels  in  America,  2  vols. 
Harper  8c  Brothers,  New  York. 

6  Murray's  Travels  in  United  States,  2  vols. 
Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

'  Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States, 

3  vols.  8vo.     Little  &  Brown,  Boston. 
Graham's  United  States,  with  notes  and  addi- 

tk>ns.    Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 


the  sad  story  of  the  American  debts,  Sydney  Smith 
would,  doubtless,  advise  all  the  world  to  read  his  let- 
ters, which  are  not  a  little  severe  on  the  repudiators. 

The  preceding  observations  on  Modern  History  I 
trust  will  be  found  sufficient.  "?/[artin's  Colonies" 
will  convey  the  latest  information  on  Malta,  Gibraltar, 
and  the  rest  of  our  settlements ;  while  the  general 
history  of  the  continental  nations  is  given  in  the  Cy- 
clopaedias quite  as  fully  as  most  readers  can  require. 
Concerning  France, ^  the  life  of  Richelieu  and  others, 
with  histories  of  kings,  or  reigning  families  of  most 
interest,  may  easily  be  selected,  arranged,  read,  and 
digested,  according  to  the  principles  already  explained. 
The  peculiar  fancy  of  some  readers  may  tempt  them 
to  search  deeply  into  other  parts  of  modern  history ; 
though  I  should  strongly  advise  readers  to  give  the 
preference  to  the  portions  already  discussed.  For 
these  are  the  portions  most  generally  studied ;  no 
slight  proof  that  experience  has  shown  them  to  be 
best  suited  to  the  opportunities  and  wants  of  the  pre- 
sent state  of  society.  The  study  of  history  and  gene- 
ral literature  is  like  the  study  of  law :  that  man  reads 
to  most  advantage  who  makes  such  a  selection  from 
the  ponderous  records  of  the  wisdom  and  folly  of  the 
past  as  enables  him  not  to  boast  of  recondite  learning, 
but  to  bring  most  to  bear  at  a  given  moment,  to  sup- 
port his  own  arguments,  or  refute  his  adversary. 
Old  people,  old  in  years  but  not  in  understanding, 
form  most  exalted  notions  of  the  literary  advantages 
of  the  rising  generation.  They  seem  to  think  that 
difficulties  diminish  as  books  increase ;  whereas,  in 
furnishing  our  minds,  as  our  houses,  more  is  expected 
in  proportion  to  our  facilities.  The  term,  well-in- 
formed is  not  less  a  word  of  comparison  than  the  term 
rich.  And  however  much  the  labours  of  the  learned 
may  slope  the  way,  the  temple  of  knowledge  may 
always  be  represented  on  a  hill  enveloped  in  a  mist : 
the  ascent  should  be  drawn  most  precipitous  and 
cloudy  at  the  bottom,  with  crowds  of  travellers,  dull, 
heavy,  discouraged,  and  bewildered ;  while,  towards 
the  top,  the  slope  should  be  gradual,  the  travellers 
few  and  far  between,  looking  better  both  in  health 
and  spirits,  and  the  mist  clearing  away,  till  the  one 
happ.y  man  on  the  summit  is  in  a  flood  of  light,  and 
cannot  take  off  his  hat,  to  hurrah,  for  the  sun  in  his 
eyes.  Fancy  would  add  sign-posts  with  "Beware 
of  man-traps," — "  Try  no  short  cuts." — "  The  best 
road  lies  over  the  hill."  In  the  foreground  swarms 
of  little  children,  of  pantomimic  proportions,  might  be 
selling  penny  guide-books  to  many  an  eager  pur- 
chaser ;  while  one  or  two  sages  were  standing  aside, 
presenting  a  chosen  few  with  lectures  of  a  far  less  tempt- 
ing appearance  on  patient  and  methodical  industry. 

By  a  catalogue  now  before  me,  my  attention  is 
drawn  to  the  following  publications  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  would  complete  their  collections  of  works 
on  modern  history : 

1.  "  Origin,  Progress,  and  Fall  of  Freedom  in 
Italy,  from  476—1805,  a.  d.,"  by  Sismondi.^ 

I  know  this  to  be  a  good  standard  ^vork. 

2.  "  A  Second  and  Elementary  History  of  Eng- 
land," by  Keightley,  who  is  a  very  patient  and  ac- 
curate compiler. 

3.  Thomas  Moore's  "History  of  Ireland;"'"  the 
only  history  of  any  note. 

4.  Sir  W.  Scott's  "  History  of  Scotland,""  which 
I  found  as  amusing  and  instructive  as  I  expected  from 
its  author. 

"History  of  France,  from  the  earliest  Periods  to 
the  Abdication  of  Napoleon,"  by  E.  E.  Crowe. '^ 
This  history  I  found  very  sententious  and  philoso- 


8  Michelet's  History  of  France,  now  in  course 
of  pubhcation.     Appleton  &  Co. 

9  SisMONDi's  Italian  Republics,  1  vol.  Harper 
&  Brothers,  New  York. 

'"  Moore's  History  of  Ireland,  2  vols.  Lea  & 
Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

"  Scott's  Scotland.   Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

'2  Crowe's  France.  3  vole.  12mo.  Harper  & 
Brothers,  New  York. 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


31 


phical,  but  not  so  well  suited  to  the  young  as  to  the 
reflecting  reader. 

Dr.  Dunham's  "History  of  Spain  and  Portugal," 
5  vols.  There  is  also  a  "History  of  Spain,"  by  The 
Society  for  the  DiflUsion  of  Useful  Knowledge  ;  al.=o 
a  short  history,  by  Calcott,  mentioned  by  Dr.  Smith. 

Dr.  Dunham's  "  Germanic  Empire,"  3  vols. 

Dr.  Dunham's  "Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Nor- 
way," 3  vols. 

Grattan's  "  History  of  the  Netherlands,"  I  have 
already  characterized :  the  last  half  of  the  volume  is 
most  important.   1  vol. 

"  History  of  Switzerland,"  down  to  1830.    1  vol. 

Dr.  Dunham's  "  Poland,  to  1830."  The  account 
of  Poland,  in  Alison,  is  very  amusing. 

Bell's  "  History  of  Russia  to  1807."i  1  vol. 

"  History  of  the  United  States  of  America,"  from 
Columbus  to  1826 ;  by  the  Rev.  H.  Fergus.  2  vols. 

ON  THE  STUDY  OF  ROMAN  HISTORY. 

The  first  question  which  would  occur  is, — upon 
what  ancient  authorities  is  the  history  of  Rome  chiefly 
based?  the  following:  Livy,  Dionysius  of  Halicar- 
nassus,  Polybius,  Diodorus  Siculus,-  Appian,  Dion 
Cassius,  Varro,  Cicero,  Sallust,  Caesar,  Vellcius, 
Tacitus,  Suetonius,  Plutarch,  and  Cornelius  Nepos ; 
these  are  the  principal  classical  authorities.'  The 
Scriptores  Hist.  Augustoe,  Procopius,  and  others,  are 
comparatively  little  consulted,  except  by  men  of  the 
enthusiasm  of  Gibbon. 

These  authors  I  mention  because  their  names  so 
often  occur  that  any  young  person  would  do  well  to 
employ  an  hour  reading  a  short  account  of  them  from 
a  Biographical  Dictionary.  I  would  also  show  how 
arduous  is  the  task  of  becoming  profoundly  learned 
in  every  part  of  Roman  History.  De  Thou  wrote 
138  books  on  the  continental  broils,  during  the  last 
half  of  the  16th  century ;  but  before  he  began  he  knelt 
down  and  offered  up  a  prayer  that  he  might  accu- 
rately and  impartially  execute  a  work  on  which,  from 
that  moment,  he  resolved  to  devote  his  Ufe.  Gibbon 
was  twenty  years  composing  the  Decline  and  Fall  of 
the  Roman  Empire.  It  would  have  taken  many 
more  years  to  write  its  rise  and  grandeur.  To  men 
of  such  genius  and  enthusiasm  must  we  leave  the 
original  authorities,  and,  not  entering  the  mine  our- 
selves, we  must  be  content  with  such  specimens  of 
the  buried  treasure  as  they  are  pleased  to  bring  to 
light.  The  above  list  does  not  contain  the  names  of 
half  the  authorities  who  supply  the  whole  chain  of 
history ;  yet,  short  as  it  is,  it  comprises  twice  the 
number  of  books  which  enter  into  the  classical  studies 
of  either  university. 

1  must  now  address  myself  to  two  separate  classes 
of  readers;  first,  to  young  men  preparing  themselves 
as  candidates  either  for  Scholarships  or  classical  ho- 
nours at  the  universities  ;  secondly,  to  young  ladies, 
and  other  general  readers,  who  have  only  learning 
and  leisure  sufficient  for  a  shorter  and  more  general 
course. 

To  speak  of  the  first  class — youth  at  school,  or 
with  private  tutors,  have,  commonly,  time  for  doing 
much  to  advance  them  at  college,  if  they  are  but  well 
directed.  The  mode  of  reading  history  which  they 
must  adopt  is  peculiar.  Others  may  be  content  to 
read  till  they  have  satisfied  their  own  minds  ;  but  the 
former  have  to  satisfy  examiners.  Others  may  be 
less  careful  of  facts  when  they  have  gathered  prin- 

'  Dunham's  Spain  and  Portugal,   Germanic  Em- 

?ire,  Denmark,  Sweden  and  Norway. — Grattan's 
Netherlands,  History  of  Switzerland,  Poland. — 
Bell's  Russia,  all  in  "  Lardner's  Cabinet  Cyclo- 
pedia." 

Prescott's  History  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella, 
3  vols.     Little  &  Brown,  Boston. 

2  Booth's  Diodorus  Siculus,  2  vols.  8vo.  London. 
'Baker's  Livy,  2  vols. — Murphy's  Tacitus,   1 

vol. — Sallust,  1  vol. — Cssar,  1  vol. — Langhorne's 
Plutarch,  1  vol.  All  published  by  T.  Wardle, 
Philadelphia.  ^  -~-^~^ 


ciples,  and  preserved  the  kernel  without  the  husk  ; 
but  candidates  for  honours  must  prove  thai  they  know 
principles,  which  they  can  only  do  by  having  facts 
available  and  ready  at  command.  An  examination  i.« 
conducted  by  papers  of  quts'.ions  wliich  serve  as  pegs 
on  which  to  hang  your  knov.-ledge ;  but  should  you 
confuse  merely  the  names  of  historical  characters,  you 
will  lose  the  chance  of  displaying  your  attainments, 
although  your  mind  is  stored  with  the  deepest  re- 
flections on  the  Roman  policy  or  constitution.  The 
first  thing,  therefore,  to  consider  is  that  you  can  never 
be  said  eflectualiy  to  know  any  more  history  than  you 
can  accurately  write  out,  with  time,  place,  and  "cir- 
cumstance. Read,  therefore,  on  the  method  before 
described,  which  I  shall  call  the  expansive  principle. 
Begin  with  committing  to  memory  an  outline — then 
fill  in  as  fast  and  no  faster  than  you  can  make  good 
your  ground.  In  this  way  you  will  always  be  ready 
to  be  examined  fo  the  extent  of  your  reading,  and 
^yill  rear  such  an  historical  edifice  as  will  admit  of  con- 
tinual addition  and  enlargement  without  any  part  of 
your  work  being  pulled  down  and  wasted.  This  ad- 
vice is  more  simple  than  obvious.  I  have  known 
many  a  student  read  for  sixteen  University  terms,  and 
collect  materials  which  were  at  no  single  moment,  from 
first  to  last,  in  a  state  to  be  put  together,  even  sup- 
posing that  the  disorder  of  his  mental  store-room  did 
not  render  it  impossible  to  find  or  identify  the  many 
separate  pieces  he  had  laboriously  collected. 

Your  first  book  should  be  "  The  Outline  of  the 
Roman  History, "3  by  the  Christian  Knowledge  So- 
ciety. This  little  book,  insignificant  as  it  may  seem, 
is  not  to  be  despised.  It  traces  the  Romans  as  they 
gradually  spread  from  a  corner  of  Italy  over  nearly 
all  the  known  world,  and  gives  the  chief  dates,  cha- 
racters, and  events.  When  this  outline  is  known 
thoroughly,  it  will  serve  as  a  memoria  technica,  to 
connect  and  facilitate  the  recollection  of  more  minute 
detail.  For,  the  difficulty  in  history  is  to  remember 
not  the  princi[)les  and  general  impression,  but  who 
said  this,  and  who  did  that,  and  when  or  where  parti- 
cular actions  occurred  :  and  in  an  examination  you 
can  never  hope  to  show  that  you  know  any  thing  un- 
less you  can  give  a  clear  and  accurate  account  of  it. 
Certainly  you  may  be  allowed  to  describe  events 
more  or  less  fully  and  in  detail ;  but  every  statement 
must  be  both  connected  and  exact  as  far  as  it  goes. 
Let  this  outline  then  be  impressed  deeply  on  your 
memory,  so  that  you  have,  as  it  were,  one  Roman 
picture  ever  hanging  before  your  mind's  eye,  to  serve 
as  a  general  map  of  the  country,  through  which  your 
classic  path  is  doomed  to  lie  for  some  years  to  come. 
A  plan  I  found  very  useful  was  drawing  out  the  lead- 
ing historical  facts  on  a  sheet  of  paper,  divided  into 
vertical  columns,  each  comprising  one  century.  Four 
black  horizontal  lines  cut  all  the  centuries  into  quar- 
ters, and  the  sheet  into  departments.  After  a  little 
while  I  found  it  very  easy  to  remember  the  contents 
of  each  department,  which  thus  served  as  a  clue  to 
dates  and  a  long  series  of  events.  When  this  outline 
is  perfectly  familiar,  as,  from  its  brevity,  it  may  be  in 
the  space  of  a  few  days,  you  must  proceed  to  fill  it 
up  according  to  your  taste  and  inclination.  The  usual 
examinations  for  Scholarships,  at  which  the  candi- 
dates are  too  young  to  be  supposed  to  have  read  very 
deeply,  require  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  commonly 
received  accounts  of  historians  rather  than  that  criti- 
cal research  into  particular  portions  which  is  required 
of  the  candidates  for  classes.  In  reading  for  a  Scholar- 
ship you  should  prepare  for  writing  historical  essays, 
which  will  be  read  with  reference  to  two  points;  first, 
to  see  if  you  have  been  in  the  habit  of  reading  accu- 
rately ;  secondly,  whether  you  have  reflected  on  what 
you  read.  As  to  the  first  point,  the  observations  re- 
specting the  outline  history  will  be  sufficient.  As  to 
the  second,  you  must  read  a  brief  account  of  the  whole, 
rather  than  a  more  copious  compilation  of  part  of  the 
Roman    annals.     And  for  this  reason  ; — your  best 


''  Outline  of  Roman  History,  in  1  small  vol.  25  cte. 
Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 


32 


A  COURSE   OF    ENGLISH  READING. 


chance  of  displaying  reflection  will  be  by  drawing 
comparisons  between  the  events  of  the  different  pe- 
riods to  which  your  theme  or  paper  of  questions  refers. 
Should  you  confine  your  studies  to  one  period  only, 
this  may  chance  not  to  be  the  subject  of  a  single 
question,  and  all  your  industry  may  remain  unappre- 
ciated. I  should,  therefore,  advise  you  to  take 
Keightley's  "  Roman  History."' 

You  have  the  choice  of  two  works ;  one  is  quite 
elementary,  the  other  forms  only  two  volumes  duode- 
cimo ;  and  though  certainly  the  first  twenty  pages  on 
the  early  Roman  History  and  Constitution  is  very  dry 
and  scarcely  intelligible,  still  the  rest  of  the  volume  is 
perspicuous,  and  contains  enough  for  any  Scholarship 
examination.    The  chief  points  To  remark  are  these : — 

The  successive  changes  in  the  form  of  government, 
heir  effects,  and  causes:  The  gradual  rise  of  theple- 
)eian  power :  The  conquests  and-  accessions  to  the 
Roman  dominions. 

Learn  also  to  trace  each  distinguished  character 
throughout  all  the  events  with  which  his  name  is  as- 
sociated, so  that  you  may  be  prepared  to  write  the  life 
of  any  party  proposed. 

A  iliciliiy  of  treating  these  subjects  fully  will  only 
be  the  result  of  much  comparison  and  reflection. 

During  my  early  studies  I  once  had  a  friend  with 
whom  I  used  to  walk  every  day,  and  discuss  parts  of 
history ;  and  in  these  peripatetic  lectures,  as  we  used  to 
call  them,  the  glorious  exploits  of  the  good,  as  well  as 
the  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors  of  the  bad,  formed 
thesubjectof  very  animated  controversy.  The  history 
which  we  had  so  impressed  on  our  minds  we  could 
scarcely  forget ;  besides,  inconsistencies  were  detected, 
and  explanations  sought,  which  would  not  otherwise 
have  occurred.  What  you  only  read  you  may  doze 
over,  and  your  mind  may  wander  just  where  atten- 
tion is  most  required ;  but  you  can  hardly  converse  on 
a  subject  without  reflection. 

At  College  it  was  agreed  between  three  friends, 
myself  and  two  others,  that  whenever  we  met  we 
should  endeavour  to  puzzle  each  other  with  a  question 
on  Herodotus.  The  continual  exercise  of  recollec- 
tion and  attention  to  which  this  mere  frolic  gave  rise, 
rendered  us  wonderfully  accurate  in  ancient  history. 
I  would  strongly  recommend  some  such  diversion  to 
the  pupils  in  the  upper  form  of  a  school.  In  one  half 
yearKeightley  might  be  learned  from  beginning  to  end. 
Some  questions  have  been  published,  which  are  useful 
to  try  your  knowledge  when  you  have  read  about 
twenty  pages,  and  laid  the  book  aside.  But  to  read 
with  questions  before  you,  is  a  most  pernicious  prac- 
tice, though  one  in  which  many  indulge ;  the  conse- 
quence is  that  all  original  reflection  is  superseded,  and 
every  thing  but  the  subject  of  the  questions  escapes 
notice.  If  any  time  remains  when  perfect  in  Keight- 
ley,  take  Smith's  "Dictionary  of  Greek  and  Roman 
Antiquities, "2  and  read  attentively  about  Consuls, 
Tribunes,  Interregnum,  Plebeians,  and  every  term  of 
oflSce  or  dignity  in  Roman  History.  In  Scholarship 
examinations,  questions  on  these  subjects  are  very 
frequently  given.  The  five  numbers  of  the  Roman 
History,  by  the  Useful  Knowledge  Society,  contain 
much  information,  highly  useful  to  classical  scholars  : 
the  chapter  on  the  Credibility  of  Roman  History  is 
particularly  deserving  of  exact  reading.  The  article 
in  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Metropolitana,"  on  the  same 
subject,  is  very  good,  as  also  are  some  remarks  which 
you  may  find  by  the  index  in  Hooke's  "  Roman  His- 
tory."3  Certain  lives  in  Plutarch  may  be  read  in  con- 
nection with  Roman  History. 

Every  student  who  can  procure  Anthon's  Lem- 
priere's  "Classical    Dictionary,"''  should  remember 


'  Keightley's  Roman  History.  1  vol.  12mo. 
Turner  &-  Hayden,  New  York. 

2  Smith's  Dictionary  of  Greek  and  Roman  An- 
tiquities, with  notes.  By  Prof.  Anthon.  Ivol.  8vo. 
Harper  &  Brothers. 

3  Hooke's  Roman  History.  3  vols.  8vo.  London. 
Very  cheap. 

*  Anthon's  Lempriere's  Classical  Dictionary. 
2  vols.  8vo.    Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 


that  the  articles  on  Livy,  Rome,  and  the  names  of 
officers  and  magistrates,  are  well  worth  reading. 

This  will  be  enough  to  say  to  candidates  for  Scho- 
larships. Any  who  are  quite  sure  they  are  perfect  so 
far,  may  take  a  hint  from  the  few  remarks  I  have  to 
offer  to 

Candidates  for  classes. — These  students  I  must 
refer  to  what  I  have  said  in  my  "  Student's  Guide  to 
Oxford  Honours  ;"  at  the  same  time  that  I  add,  that 
the  early  part  of  Roman  history,  which  is  allowed  to 
be  the  most  difficult,  has  now  been  treated  by  Dr. 
Arnold. 5  Maiden's  "  History  of  Rome"  is  also  used 
by  candidates  for  honours.  It  is  not  generally  under- 
stood that  what  is  required  at  Oxford,  for  the  final 
examinations,  is  a  thorough  knowledge  of  portions  of 
Roman  History,  from  the  original  authorities,  rather 
than  a  mere  outline  of  the  whole.  Lideed,  a  writer  in 
one  of  the  Reviews,  about  three  years  since,  asserted 
that  there  probably  were  not  three  men  in  the  whole 
University,  inclusive  of  blasters,  who  had  any  more 
knowledge  of  the  later  periods  of  Roman  History  than 
could  be  derived  from  English  compilations.  The 
Oxford  examinations  in  Roman  History  even  for  the 
highest  honours  are  chiefly  confined  to  the  first  and 
second  decade  of  Livy,  about  two  books  of  Polybius, 
to  complete  the  history  of  the  Punic  war,  and  about 
half  of  Tacitus.  To  illustrate  these  books  it  is  usual 
to  read  portions  of  the  Roman  History  and  Biography 
in  the  "  Encyclopasdia  Metropolitana."  Since  all 
sound  education  is  based  on  the  principle  rather  to 
form  than  fill  the  mind,  and  since  Roman  History  is 
only  one  of  many  subjects  of  Oxford  studies,  these 
portions  are  enough  for  University  examinations  ;  but 
not  enough  to  satisfy  those  who  have  leisure  to  read, 
and  liberty  to  make  choice  of  what  others  have  written, 
without  the  labour  of  historical  criticism.  Therefore, 
for  young  ladies,  if  they  decide  on  reading  Roman 
History  at  all,  and  for  general  readers,  I  must  furnish 
separate  instructions. 

Begin  with  the  "  Outline  History"  before  mentioned, 
and  learn  it  thoroughly ;  then  read  parts  of  Keightley 
on  the  Punic  wars,  or  any  other  events  which  curiosity 
suggests.  Keep  up  the  outline  by  continual  perusal, 
and  regard  it  as  a  map  of  the  Roman  empire,  which 
you  must  daily  consult  to  show  you  exactly  where- 
abouts you  are.  Men  of  well-formed  minds  will 
readily  observe  all  the  changes  in  the  constitution ; 
yoimg  ladies,  and  others,  in  whom  general  curiosity 
and  imagination  predominate,  can  amuse  themselves 
with  the  "most  disastrous  chances,"  and  the  many 
tragical  positions  in  which  Roman  story  abounds. 
Those  who  frequent  theatres  should  see  the  Roman 
plays,  Coriolanus,  Julius  Csesar,  and  others.  Much 
talent  and  industry  is  employed  in  the  principal  thea- 
tres, in  providing  scenery,  dresses,  aud  decorations, 
critically  correct  and  true  to  the  time  and  place  in 
which  each  plot  is  laid.  Many  sets  of  Rdman  en- 
gravings will  answer  the  same  purpose.  Our  appre- 
ciation of  Roman  history  greatly  depends  on  terms 
and  descriptions  bringing  before  our  mind's  eye  scenes 
and  customs  as  they  really  existed.  Swallow-tailed 
coats,  livery-servants,  a  regiment  of  Champagne  bot- 
tles, fan-bearing  young  ladies,  and  ice-presenting 
young  gentlemen,  must  not  rise  in  our  imagination 
when  we  read  of  a  Roman  supper ;  neither  must  every 
shower  of  rain  in  Rome  be  associated  with  umbrellas, 
Mackintoshes,  and  cab-stands.  To  prevent  these 
modern  from  marring  ancient  views,  the  accounts  of 
Pompeii,  Herculaneum,  and  the  late  discoveries  in 
Etruria,  will  much  contribute ;  as  also,  I  am  told, 
"  The  Last  Days  of  Pompeii, "^  by  Bulwer  ;  a  book 
much  admired.  The  bold  engravings  of  Piranesi, 
which  may  be  found  in  some  libraries,  will  make  so 
deep  an  impression  on  the  imagination  that  the  build- 
ings of  the  mighty  city  will  be  ever  present  to  our 
imagination.  There  is  also  an  inferior  series  of  en- 
gravings, in  the  same  style,  representing  all  the  prin- 


5  Dr.  Arnold's  Lectures  on  History.      1  vol. 
25  cents.     J.  Winchester,  New  York. 

6  Bulwer's  Last  Days  of  Pompeii.  1  vol.  50  cents. 
Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH   READING. 


33 


cipal  scenes  described  in  Rollin's'  "Ancient  History :" 
this  series  gives  more  figures  and  shows  more  of  the 
Roman  dress  and  armour  than  Piranesi.  A  small 
edition  of  Adam's  "Roman  Antiquities,"^  and  Smith's 
"Dictionary  of  Grecian  and  Roman  Antiquities," 
contain  many  engravings;  and,  be  it  observed,  the 
pencil  is  quite  as  legitimate  an  instrument  of  instruc- 
tion as  the  pen,  and  often  much  more  efficient.  With 
these  works  on  Roman  Antiquities,  readers  of  the  most 
ordinary  curiosity  will  find  their  attention  riveted  to  a 
variety  of  articles,  describing  how  that  mighty  people 
eat  and  drank,  and  bathed,  and  slept ;  to  say  nothing 
of  how  they  debated,  went  to  law,  and  fought ;  and 
how  they  went  through  the  daily  routine  of  private  life. 
These  works  will  make  a  pleasing  variety  while 
reading  Keightley's  History.  Similar  entertainment 
may  be  profitably  derived  from  Fosbrokc's  "  Treatise 
on  the  Arts,  Manners,  Manufactures,  &c.,  of  the 
Greeks  and  Romans."  Next  to  Keightley,  or,  in- 
stead of  it,  I  can  recommend  "  A  History  of  Rome, 
from  the  earliest  times  to  the  founding  of  Constanti- 
nople," in  two  small  volumes.  This  is  chiefly  drawn 
from  the  labours  of  the  greatest  of  living  historians, 
Schlosser :  some  use  is  also  made  of  the  best  standard 
histories.  One  continuous  Roman  History  is  enough 
for  the  general  reader,  and  this  from  Schlosser,  I 
think,  deserves  the  preference. 

So  far  I  have  only  recommended  one  Roman  Out- 
line, price  dd.,  and  one  History,  price  12s. :  and  these, 
as  I  said  of  the  histories  of  England,  are  mere  skele- 
tons ;  when  you  have  a  competent  knowledge  of  them, 
and  have  perused  the  works  on  Manners  and  Cus- 
toms, proceed  at  once  to  the  original  authorities. 
The  Punic  wars  in  "  Livy's  pictured  page,"^  which 
Clarendon  took  as  his  model ;  the  Catiline  Conspi- 
racy, which  Johnson  allowed  to  contain  historic  por- 
traiture, because  Sallusf*  knew  the  characters;  Ta- 
citus,^  the  philosophic  annahst,  who  gives  facts  and 
principles,  the  secret  springs  and  the  great  movements 
in  the  same  sentence  ;  Plutarch,^ first  the  lecturer  and 
afterwards  the  proconsul  of  Trajan,  who  studied  at 
Athens,  and  travelled  through  Greece  and  Egypt ;  the 
favourite  author  of  Lord  Chatham  and  Napoleon,  each 
of  whom  would  almost  have  said  of  Plutarch,  with 
Theodore  Beza,  what,  in  substance,  a  writer  in  the 
"Quarterly"    said  of  Boswell,    "that   if  we  were 
obliged  to  throw  all  the  books  in  the  world  into  the 
sea,  this  should  be  reserved  till  the  last;"  think  of 
each  time-honoured  genius :  how  gladly  would  we 
invite  him  to  wine  and  walnuts,  and  try  to  draw  him 
out ;  and  shall  we  not  read  his  works  when  elegant 
translations  are  in  almost  every  library  ?    Have  we 
not  the  curiosity  even  of  the  daughter  of  a  country 
postmaster,  who  eagerly  claims  the  perquisites  of  a 
peep  at  the  letters  of  the  great  ?     We  are  not  obliged 
to  read  one  of  these  works  through,  but  should  cease 
to  regard  them  as  sealed  books.     We  may  take  a 
\  translation  of  Cicero's  "  Letters,"'^  and  see  what  he 
'  had  to  say  to  his  wife  and  family,  and  what  to  the 
I  public,  of  those  most  eventful  days.     If  we  retain  a 
i  knowledge  of  the  general  history,  these  authors  will 
serve  to  fill  up  the  outline,  and  every  new  idea  will 
I  find  its  place,  and  tend  both  to  pleasure  and  to  profit. 
I     Dunlop's  "History  of  Roman  Literature,"'  in  two 
I  volumes,  and  Schlegel's  "  Lectures  on  Ancient  and 
i',Modern  Literature, "^  one  volume,  are  standard  works. 


i    '  Rollin's  Ancient  History.    2  vols.  8vo.     Har- 

jper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

I    2  Adam's  Roman  Antiquities.    1  vol.     Collins  & 

iBrother,  New  York. 

j    '  Baker's  Livy,  2  vols.     Wardle,  Philadelphia. 

*  Sallust.     Wardle,  Philadelphia. 
I    *  Murphy's  Tacitus.    Wardle,  Philadelphia. 
1    8  Langhorne's  Plutarch.    Harper  &  Bro.,  N.  Y. 
i    ''  Cicero's  Letters  and   Life,  by  Middleton,  in 
jl  vol.  8vo.    E.  Moxon,  London. 
[    8  Dunlop's  History  of   Roman   Literature,  2 
l/ols.  8vo.    E.  Littell,  Philadelphia. 

9  Schlegel's  Philosophy  of  Ancient  and  Mo- 
dern History,  2  vols.    Appleton,  New  York. 
i  5 


deemed  almost  indispensable  for  those  emulous  of 
classical  honours.  Such  works,  however,  can  give 
only  the  mere  terms  and  sounds  of  knowledge  to  that 
large  majority  of  readers  who  are  unacquainted  with 
Greek  and  Roman  writers. 

A  few  hours  devoted  to  the  article  on  Rome,  in 
"The  Penny  Cyclopaedia,"  will  be  enough  to  give  a 
fair  insight  into  the  constitution  as  developed  by 
Niebuhr. 

Of  Cicero  and  his  times,  which  are  topics  equal  in 
interest  to  any  part  of  Roman  history,  Middleton's 
"  Life  of  Cicero"  is  the  great  authority.  A  very  good 
short  account,  by  my  friend  Mr.  Hollings,  is  pub- 
lished in  the  Family  Library.  The  Cyclopaedias  also 
contain  compendious  articles.  Macaulay's  "  Survey 
of  the  Greek,  Roman,  and  Modern  Historians,"'" 
published  in  selections  from  the  "  Edinburgh  Re- 
view," is  very  good.  The  "  Tour  to  the  Sepulchres 
of  Eiruria  in  1839,"  by  Mrs.  Hamilton  Gray,  will  be 
entertaining  and  instructive  to  most  readers — to  the 
classical  scholar  especially. 

Of  Niebuhr's  History"  I  have  only  to  say  that  it  is 
highly  valuable  to  good  classical  scholars,  but  unin- 
telligible to  most  English  readers.  Those  who  feel  a 
laudable  curiosity  to  know  the  nature  of  the  disco- 
veries by  which  Niebuhr  has  obtained  his  faif  renown, 
may  find  a  review  of  his  work,  which  I  remember 
reading,  either  in  the  "Quarterly"  or  "Edinburgh 
Review;"  probably  it  is  noticed  in  both.  Twiss's 
"Epitome  of  Niebuhr"  used  to  be  popular  at  Oxford. 

Eustace's  "Classical  Tour"'^  will  profitably  re-- 
lieve  and  vary  the  study  of  Roman  History. 

ON  THE  STUDY  OF  GRECIAN  HISTORY.. 

On  this  subject,  also,  I  must  address  myself  to- 
cla.«sical  students  and  English  readers  separately. 
The  "  Outline  History  of  Greece, "'^  by  the  Society, 
is  the  first  book  for  the  candidate  for  Scholarships,  by 
which  I  mean  all  young  men  who  are  desirous  of  im- 
proving their  last  year  at  school,  or  under  a  private 
tutor.  Keightley's  "History  of  Greece"  will  be  the 
second  book.  The  whole  of  the  "  Outline  History" 
should  be  learned  almost  by  heart,  as  I  said  before 
of  English  and  Roman  History.  In  Keightley  you 
may  be  contented  to  read  only  as  far  as  the  death  of 
Alexander  the  Great :  the  remainder  you  may  leave 
till  almost  every  other  part  of  Ancient  History  is  ex- 
hausted. Of  course,  the  same  principle  of  study,  and 
the  same  degree  of  accuracy,  will  be  required  with . 
Grecian  as  with  Roman  History.  Nine  out  of  ten  of 
ordinary  advisers  would  tell  you  it  was  indispensable 
that  you  should  read  the  whole  of  the  Grecian  His- 
tory, either  by  Mitford'*  or  Thirlwall.'s  The  time 
for  reading  Mitford,  in  my  opinion,  is  now  gone 
by  :  the  best  part  is  the  Life  and  Times  of  Alexan- 
der ;  and  this  is  better  done  in  the  Biography  by 
Williams, '8  in  the  "Family  Library."  '^ThirlvvaU's 
History  is  unquestionably  a  masterly  performance ; 
but  the  question  is  not  what  is  creditable  to  the  writer, 
but  what  is  profitable  to  the  reader.  When  your  mind 
is  prepared  to  realize  and  make  your  own  any  parts 
of  Thirlwall's  History,  then  read  those  parts,  and 
those  only.  You  will  ask  to  what  preparation  I 
allude  :  I  mean  that  Thirlwall  classifies  facts,  extracts, 


'"Macaulay's  Survey  of  the  Greek,  Roman, 
AND  Modern  Historians,  in  Edinburgh  Review,  all 
included  in  his  "  Miscellanies,"  in  1  vol.,  which  forms 
part  of  Carey  &  Hart's  "  Modern  Essayists." 

"  Niebuhr's  Rome,  new  edition,  5  vols.  Lea  & 
Blanchard. 

'2  Eustace's  Classical  Tour,  2  vols,  price  $2.50. 
Baudry,  Paris. 

'3  The  Outline  of  the  History  of  Greece,  by 
the  Society,  in  1  small  vol.  25  cts.     Carey  &  Hart. 

'*  Mitford's  Greece,  8  vols.  12mo.     London. 

'5  Thirlwall's  History  of  Greece,  in  1  large 
8vo  vol.    Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York. 

'6  Williams's  Life  of  Alexander,  price  50  cts. 
Harpers'  Family  Library. 


34 


A  COURSE   OF  EI^GLISH  READING.' 


principles,  and  makes  comments.  The  preparation 
requisite  to  profit  by  his  writings  is  therefore  three- 
fold :  first,  to  be  familiar  with  the  facts  which  he 
quotes ;  that  is,  to  take  at  a  glance  any  sentence  from 
Herodotus,'  Thucydides,  or  others,  and  feel  a  curi- 
osity to  know  whether  he  has  any  thing  more  to  say 
of  it  than  you  already  know.  Evidently,  if  you  have 
never  seen  the  sentence,  it  must,  fiom  want  of  pre- 
vious thought  and  association,  be  a  burden  to  your 
memory  without  assisting  your  understanding.  The 
second  preparation  is,  to  be  used  to  compare  some  at 
least  of  the  sentences  which  Thirlwail  classifies : 
then,  and  then  only,  will  you  be  improved  by  that 
increased  quickness  of  observation,  and  that  ready 
comprehension  of  all  the  bearings  of  facts,  which  a 
good  history  should  serve  to  promote.  An  historian, 
like  a  judge,  should  sum  up,  arrange,  and  weave  into 
one  plain  story,  all  that  falls  from  competent  wit- 
nesses; while  the  reader,  like  a  juryman,  should  de- 
cide, not  by  the  learning  of  the  judge,  but  the  bearing 
of  the  evidence.  It  follows,  then,  that  besides  being 
first  conversant  with  facts,  and,  secondly,  having 
viewed  them  in  connection,  the  third  qualification  is 
a  competence  to  form  an  independent  judgment  upon 
them.  Few  persons,  I  admit,  enjoy  this  threefold 
qualification  for  the  whole  of  any  history  ;  still  a  ma- 
ture mind  can  weigh  and  decide  on  one  page,  under- 
stand enough  to  assent  to  a  second,  and  suspend  judg- 
ment on  a  third.  But  I  am  at  present  addressing 
youths  whose  minds  are  not  matured,  and  who  are 
required  by  the  university  system  to  read  history  ra- 
ther to  form  than  to  fill  the  mind,  and  for  discipline 
rather  than  for  information.  But  on  this  topic  I  must 
refer  to  my  "Student's  Guide,"  which  I  have  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  one  of  the  most  expe- 
rienced examiners  has  long  been  recommending  for 
the  guidance  of  his  pupils. 

Keightley  has  also  written  a  small  elementary 
flistory  of  Greece.^  Before  either  of  these  publica- 
tions there  appeared  a  History  of  Greece,  by  the 
Useful  Knowledge  Society,  which,  as  I  know  by 
private  information,  was  first  submitted  to  the  re- 
vision of  Dr.  Arnold.  This  contains  about  300  double- 
columned  pages  ;  the  first  150  of  which  comprise  all 
events  to  the  death  of  Alexander.  Some  prefer 
Keightley's  History.  Certainly,  as  Mr.  Keightley 
was  the  later  writer,  he  had  more  advantages ;  he  is 
allowed  to  be  a  scholar  of  very  extensive  reading. 

The  student  who  has  followed  my  advice  so  far, 
may  read  the  lives  of  Pericles,'  Nicias,  and  the  other 
Grecian  characters  in  Plutarch.  Above  all,  he  should 
learn  most  accurately  every  event  in  those  chapters 
of  the  first  book  of  Thucydides,  which  treat  of  the 
interval  between  the  Persian  and  Peloponnesian  wars : 
here  part  of  Thirlwall's  Greece  will  be  the  best  com- 
mentary. Let  him  read  this  portion  till  he  can  trace 
every  step  in  the  rise  of  the  Athenian  supremacy. 

I  have  now  given  as  long  a  course  of  Grecian  His- 
tory as  any  youth  can  be  expected  to  know  perfectly 
before  he  enters  the  university :  I  would  add  more, 
but  I  have  not  forgotten  my  college  days,  and  all  the 
instructive  retrospect  I  have  often  enjoyed  in  com- 
paring notes  with  old  friends.  Very  great  designs 
and  comparatively  very  little  doings  I  find  enter  into 
the  confessions  of  every  student.  Y  oung  persons  are 
always  sanguine  ;  and  when  they  once  are  betrayed, 
by  a  very  excusable  but  fatal  ambition,  into  forming 
too  large  a  plan,  the  work  is  wanted  long  before  the 
two  ends  meet.     Books,  however  short,  require  a  cer- 

:  tain  time  for  reading,  a  certain  time  for  reflecting,  and 
a  certain  time  to  digest ;  that  is,  to  bleijd  with  our 

•  system,  to  become  part  of  our  mental  implements, 
and  to  serve  as  a  common  measure  and  every-day 

:  standard  of  thought. 


'  Beloe's  Herodotus.     T.  "Wardle,  Philadelphia. 

2  Keightley's  History  of  Greece,  2  vols.  Tur- 
ner &  Hayden,  New  York. 

3  Pericles  and  Aspasia.  Imaginary  Conversa- 
tions, by  Walter  Savage  Landor,  2  vols.  Carey 
&  Hart. 


It  is  worth  remembering  that  a  man  never  learns 
the  use  of  instruments,  whether  mental  or  physical, 
so  readily  or  so  thoroughly  as  when  he  has  few  of 
them.  The  rude  implements  of  the  Indian  have  sur- 
passed the  machinery  of  Manchester.  "John  Hun- 
ter's head,"  said  Abernethy,  "  was  like  a  beehive  ;" 
not  that  he  meant  to  say  it  was  all  in  a  buz,  but  that 
it  had  a  separate  cell  for  every  store.  The  modern 
Attic  bees  are  in  a  hurry  to  gather  the  honey  before 
they  have  prepared  the  wax.  My  advice  is  to  read 
on  each  subject  one  outhne,  again  and  again,  till  you 
have  once  formed  the  cells:  you  may  then  sip  of 
every  flower  in  the  wild  field  of  literature, — fill  with- 
out confusion,  and  preserve  without  loss.    • 

To  candidates  for  university  honours  I  have  little 
more  to  say  on  Grecian  History.  I  must  again  refer 
to  some  general  remarks  in  "  The  Student's  Guide." 
Since  1836,  the  year  in  which  it  was  written,  we  have 
been  favoured  with  the  works  of  Keightley,  Thirl- 
wail, and  Wordsworth.*  Of  the  value  of  the  last  two, 
if  read  judiciously,  in  a  spirit  of  inquiry,  we  can  hard- 
ly say  too  much.  The  general  error  of  Oxford  class- 
men is  confining  themselves  too  much  to  the  books 
they  propose  for  examination.  The  mind  requires 
not  only  relief  but  variety,  which  Wordsworth's 
"Greece,"  a  book  of  entertainment  and  lively  inte- 
rest, is  well  calculated  to  afford.  Eustace's  "  Classi- 
cal Tour"  is  of  similar  value  to  the  readers  of  Roman 
literature.  I  would  also  suggest  translations  of  Ar- 
rian,5  Pausanias,^  Xenophon,  (especially  his  smaller 
treatises,)  and  almost  every  original  authority  which 
comes  to  hand.  These  you  may  read  for  variety.  Far 
from  intending  to  overtask  your  mind,  I  advise  you 
to  read  more  or  less,  to  select  the  amusing,  or  to  toil 
through  the  intricate,  according  to  the  principle  I  have 
already  vindicated  of  being  guided  by  taste  and  in- 
clination. While  the  subjects  of  your  regular  classi- 
cal studies  form  the  cells,  translations  will  furnish 
stores  to  fill  them.  Many  classical  scholars  will  be 
ashamed  to  confess  that  they  have  any  occasion  to 
read  translations.  But,  with  a  little  reflection,  all 
must  allow  that  when  a  critical  knowledge  of  the 
text,  and  an  accurate  recollection  of  the  matter  of 
sixteen  or  more  Latin  and  Greek  books  are  required, 
very  little  time  can  remain  for  reading  the  many 
works  which  are  so  desirable  to  illustrate  them. 

These,  therefore,  I  propose  to  read  by  the  medium 
of  translation.  Surely  it  is  as  worthy  of  a  scholar  to 
read  a  translation  of  Xenophon,  as  part  of  a  history 
which  gives  the  narrative  of  Xenophon,  not  only 
translated,  but  condensed.  Many  talk  of  reading 
Greek  like  English  ;  but  there  are  very  few  men  who 
can  read  other  languages,  least  of  all  Greek  and  La- 
tin, with  quite  as  Kttle  effort  as  their  own.  Bring  any 
silly  pretender  to  the  proof;  lay  before  him  the  first  i 
column  of  the  Times,  and  the  first  page  of  the  Ora 
tores  Attici,^  and  challenge  him  to  a  trial.  The  , 
truth  is,  there  is  a  kind  of  short-hand  reading,  by 
which  we  catch  the  sense  of  a  sentence  without  see- 
ing more  than  one  word  in  a  fine.  Without  this 
expeditious  act,  which  we  practise  quite  unconscious- 
ly, the  time  and  toil  of  reading  would  be  greatly  in- 
creased. And  will  any  one  pretend  that  he  could 
skim  over  Plutarch  as  safely  as  Langhorne's  transla- 
tion ?  It  is  plain  that  sound  scholars  may  find  time 
for  translations  when  too  weary  for  the  original ;  and 
I  can  only  say  that  the  translation  of  cotemporary 
authors  forms  a  better  commentary  than  any  English 
essays  I  can  recommend.  _  i   ^ 

English  translations  are  chiefly  useful  to  the  classi-IJ 
cal  student  in  two  ways.     To  leave  entirely  out  of  Jf  „ 
the  question  how  readily  translations  explain  difficult 
passages  of  those  authors  which  are  read  in  the  origi- 
nal, without  arguing  how  much  they  may  contribute 
to  elegance,  and  how  much  they  do  contribute  to 


^  Wordsworth's  Greece,  beautifully  embellished, 
in  1  vol.  8vo.     London. 

5  Rook's  Arrian,  1  vol.  8vo.    London. 

6  Pausanias's  Greece,  3  vols.  8vo.    London.         , 
'  The  Oratores  Attici,  16  vols.  8vo.    London,    i 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


35 


idleness,  and  sap  the  foundations  of  all  sound  scholar- 
ship,— the  first  use  of  translations  to  classical  students, 
who  have  not  time  to  read  the  originals, is  to  enable  them 
more  thoroughly  to  appreciate,  and  therefore  to  profit 
by,  the  historical  compilations  to  which  they  are  obliged 
to  trust  for  a  large  part  of  Grecian  as  well  as  Roman 
History.  Let  every  student  of  Grecian  History  keep 
a  well-read,  "  marked  and  quoted"  copy  of  Keight- 
ley ;  let  this  form  his  outline,  or,  as  Abernethy 
would  say,  his  series  of  cells ;  and  during  his  leisure 
hours  let  him  amuse  himself  with  marking  on  the 
margin  any  part  of  Plutarch,  Pausanias,  or  other  au- 
thority which  he  identifies  in  Keightley.  With  a  little 
reflection  he  may  sec  that  Keightley  (for  we  all  are 
fallible)  has  said  too  much  on  one  point,  too  httle  on 
another,  and  has  not  chosen  the  best  illustration  or 
argument  in  support  of  a  third.  This  exercise  of 
judgment  is  very  improving ;  indeed  it  is  more  im- 
proving to  think  erroneously  sometimes  than  to  follow 
blindly  along,  like  a  traveller  who  observes  only  what 
his  guide  points  out.  Practice  in  this,  as  in  other 
matters,  soon  makes  perfect,  and  rewards  persever- 
ance with  most  pleasing  satisfaction.  The  student 
should  try  continually  to  enlarge  the  sphere  of  his 
judgment,  and  gradually  extend  these  marginal  notes 
and  references,  which  will  delightfully  mark  his  pro- 
gress over  the  greater  part  of  the  volume.  How 
many  a  classical  anecdote  passes  traceless  through 
the  mind,  because  we  want  a  cell  for  it — because  we 
have  no  ideas  to  keep  it  company — no  such  common- 
place book  in  which  to  set  it  down  !  How  difficult  is 
it  for  the  young  to  see  that  the  value  of  facts,  as  of 
figures,  is  determined  by  the  series  in  which  they 
stand  !  Yet  nothing  is  more  likely  to  render  us  alive 
to  their  value  than  the  constant  comparison  to  which 
this  use  of  translations  will  lead,  between  some  seem- 
ingly unimportant  observation  of  Plutarch  and  the 
social  or  political  institutions  which  it  ingeniously 
elucidates  in  the  pages  of  Keightley  or  Thirlwall. 

The  first  time  we  read  Herodotus  it  seems  like  a 
collection  of  stories  ;  at  the  second  reading  we  begin 
to  trace  the  connection,  till  gradually  the  mist  clears 
away,  the  scene  becomes  distinct,  and  large  sections 
of  the  ancient  world  open  to  our  view.  Another  sug- 
gestion for  expanding  the  mind  and  teaching  "  How 
to  observe,"  (the  title  of  a  clever  volume  by  Miss 
Martineau,)  is  to  read  Herodotus  through,  once,  with- 
out assistance,  and  a  second  time  in  connection  with 
a  history  founded  upon  it  by  Heeren,  called  "  Re- 
searches into  the  Politics,  Intercourse,  and  Trade  of 
the  principal  Nations  of  Antiquity."  Heeren,  Hke 
those  who  travel  into  comparatively  unknown  coun- 
tries, is  rather  apt  to  be  led  too  far  by  an  endeavour 
to  bring  to  light  curiosities  commensurate  with  his 
toil,  and  is  accused  of  drawing  conclusions  rather 
more  extensive  than  his  premises ;  but  this  is  only 
saying  that,  in  reading  Heeren,  like  every  author,  you 
should  attend  to  him  and  judge  for  yourself 

Again,  translations  are  a  key  to  the  only  true 
source  of  what  to  many  readers  is  the  most  valuable 
parts  of  history,  the  manners,  customs,  and  general 
sphit  of  past  ages.  Niebuhr  has  laid  open  great  part 
of  the  Roman  constitution ;  but  as  to  the  habits  of 
life,  topics  of  conversation,  and  subjects  of  thought, 
I  which  filled  up  the  twenty-four  hours  of  every  day  at 
]  Rome  or  at  Athens,  here  is  still  a  wide  field  for  dis- 
1  covery.  The  books  on  Antiquities  by  Adam  and 
I  Potter'  convey  mere  fragments,  and  at  best  are  no 
I  more  to  be  compared  to  the  perusal  of  the  original 
authors,  than  the  scraps  of  information  from  a  tourist's 
[guide-book  are  to  be  compared  to  the  digested  know- 
I  ledge  and  enlargement  of  mind  produced  by  foreign 
travels.  "For  this  knowledge  of  antiquity,"  said 
Niebuhr  to  a  friend  from  whom  I  heard  it,  "  the  ma- 
jterials  he  widely  scattered  ;  every  scholar  must  col- 
tlect  and  arrange  as  many  as  he  has  the  industry  or 
the  ingenuity  to  discover :  and  in  putting  them  to- 
i  gether,  like  the  pieces  of  some  ancient  pavement,  to 

'    '  Potter's  Grecian  Antiquities,  1  vol.  8vo.  Phi- 
[iadelphia. 


form  one  consistent  pattern  delineating  ancient  life, 
the  mind  receives  a  most  invaluable  exercise."  Sup- 
posing you  wished  to  know  the  spirit  of  the  laat  cen- 
tury, and  the  general  state  of  society,  history  would 
tell  you  that  a  taste  for  literature  or  sense  of  religion 
were  less  general  than  at  the  present  time.  By  such 
vague  and  negative  testimony,  diluted  in  a  flood  of 
words,  with  the  mere  names  of  "men  eminent  for 
piety  or  learning,"  do  historians  convey  impressions 
which  they  have  derived,  and  which  I  would  recom- 
mend my  readers  to  derive,  from  memoirs  and  private 
letters  written  by  the  most  distinguished  characters 
of  their  respective  times.  Consider,  for  instance,  the 
letters  of  Lady  Montagu ;  think  not  only  of  the  ge- 
neral tone  and  spirit  of  them,  not  only  of  the  social 
influences  which  must  have  combined  to  foster  the 
social  mould,  and,  so  to  speak,  the  ever-recurring 
forms  and  surrounding  scenery  which  must  have  con- 
spired to  form  the  mental,  stint  the  moral,  and  wither 
the  spiritual  perceptions  of  the  character  those  letters 
betray, — but  think  of  the  state  of  society  which  could 
have  caused  a  lady  of  rank  to  make  such  a  complaint 
as  this  in  a  letter  to  a  friend ; — that  so  deplorably 
ignorant,  and  devoid  of  all  but  folly  and  vanity,  were 
the  minds  of  the  young  ladies  of  fashion,  that  they 
were  more  open  to  sophistry,  and  more  commonly 
turned  atheists,  than  even  the  professed  rakes  of  the 
other  sex  ;  and  instead  of  that  modesty  which  should 
teach  respect  for  married  persons,  they  really  laughed 
at  them,  as  having  prudishly  fettered  themselves  by 
an  obligation  with  which  the  world  had  become  wise 
enough  to  dispense.  Equally  great  is  the  difference 
between  the  impressions  which  even  Enghsh  readers 
may  receive  by  translations  of  Xendphon  or  Cicero, 
and  the  vague  and  senseless  observations  of  modern 
writers.  In  short,  if  you  would  rather  listen  to 
"  thoughts  that  burn,"  in  "  words  that  breathe,"  from 
a  traveller  telling  his  own  story,  than  to  a  spiritless 
version  second-hand — if  you  would  be  better  satisfied 
with  hearing  truth  drawn  by  instalments,  and  with 
all  the  reluctance  of  the  seven  teeth  of  King  John's 
Jew,  from  a  lying  witness  by  a  sharp  counsel,  than 
with  reading  a  report  of  the  same  trial  in  ten  lines — 
if  you  would  enjoy  all  the  strife  of  tongues,  and  time- 
beguiling  interest  of  a  debate  in  the  House  more  than 
the  summary  in  a  country  paper  a  week  after — then 
must  you  also  prefer  picking  your  way  through  trans- 
lations of  the  classics,  and  culling  the  choicest  sweets 
and  flowers  according  to  your  own  taste  and  appetite, 
to  any  essays  on  manners  and  customs,  and  any  of 
those  meager  descriptions  to  which  we  may  well  apply 
the  words  of  Byron, — 

"  'Tie  Greece,  but  living  Greece  no  more." 

By  such  arguments  would  I  recommend  the  use  of 
translations  to  classical  students  whose  limited  oppor- 
tunities must  cause  many  valuable  works  to  remain 
unread  in  the  original ;  but  to  the  general  reader  I 
would  also  observe  that  Jeremy  Taylor  says,  "  I  con- 
sider that  the  wisest  persons,  and  those  who  know 
how  to  value  and  entertain  the  more  noble  faculties 
of  their  soul  and  their  precious  hours,  take  pleasure 
in  reading  the  productions  of  those  old  wise  spirits 
who  preserved  natural  reason  and  religion  in  the  midst 
of  heathen  darkness,"  such  as  Homer,  Euripides, ^  Or- 
pheus, Pindar,  and  Anacreon,  jEschylus,  and  Me- 
nander,  and  all  the  Greek  poets,  Plutarch  and  Poly- 
bius,  Xenophon,''  and  all  those  other  excellent  persons 
of  both  faculties,  whose  choicest  dictates  are  collected 
by  Stobagus ;  Plato  and  his  scholars,  Aristotle,*  and 
after  him  Porphyry,  and  all  his  other  disciples,  Pytha- 
goras, and  especially  Hierocles  and  all  the  old  Acade- 
mics and  Stoics  vsnthin  the  Roman  school."  And  he 
adds  a  hope  that  such  readers  "  may  be  invited  to 
love  and  consider  the  rare  documents  of  Christianity, 


2  Potter's  Euripides,  2  vols.  8vo.     London. 

»  Spelman's  Xenophon,  1  vol.  8vo.  Wardle,  Phi- 
ladelphia. 

4  Gillies's  Aristotle's  Ethics  and  Politics  3 
vols.  Svo,    London. 


36 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


which  certainly  is  the  great  treasure-house  of  those 
excellent,  moral,  and  perfective  discourses,  which 
with  much  pains  and  pleasure  we  find  thinly  scattered 
in  all  the  Greek  and  Roman  poets,  historians,  and 
philosophers." 

Consider  in  the  classical  records  of  the  wisdom  of 
antiquity  the  faint  glimmerings  of  life  and  immortality, 
which  it  remained  for  the  gospel  fully  to  bring  to 
light;  consider  the  evident  yearning  of  the  souls  of 
men  for  knowledge  ;  consider  the  history  of  unassisted 
reason,  which  describes  such  discord  in  the  feelings 
of  each  heart,  and  such  want  of  harmony  among  the 
members  of  each  state,  as  plainly  showed  how  much 
men  wanted  knowledge  of  the  uses  and  relations  of 
the  several  parts  of  the  complicated  machinery  of  the 
moral  world.  Let  these  points  be  kept  in  view  by 
those  who  read  the  classics  through  the  medium  of 
translations.  Then  will  they  read  in  Thucydides  how 
Nicias,  amidst  all  the  dangers  of  the  Sicilian  cam- 
paign, tells  his  soldiers  "his  hope  and  comfort  is  to 
reflect  that  he  had  always  dealt  honestly  with  his 
neighbour,  and  been  mindful  of  his  God."  How 
Euripides  says,  that  "  the  man  who  has  his  God  for 
his  friend  has  the  fairest  hope  of  prosperity  ;"  and 
PUuy,  that  "  it  is  god- like  in  man  to  show  charity  to 
man,  and  this  is  the  road  to  eternal  hfe."  In  the 
Greek  tragedians  they  will  see  humility  so  inculcated 
as  to  show  that  the  minds  of  the  Athenians  were  fully 
possessed  by  the  feehng  that  the  man  who  did  not 
ascribe  his  prosperity  to  the  hand  of  Providence,  but 
showed  a  proud  and  unchastened  spirit,  was  in  danger 
of  severe  visitations ;  while,  under  the  all-prevailing 
fear  of  Ate  we  may  discern  that  the  Athenians  were 
less  incredulous  than  many  in  later  times  of  the  truth 
of  the  threat,  that  the  sins  of  the  fathers  should  be 
visited  on  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  gene- 
ration. From  such  discoveries  of  unassisted  reason, 
a  certain  class  of  philosophers  who  presume  that  every 
thing  is  contrary  to  all  reason,  which  does  not  accord 
with  theirs,  may  learn  a  lesson  of  caution  lest  they  be 
refuted  on  their  own  grounds.  These  observations 
of  the  value  of  translations  apply  more  or  less  to  all 
readers.  I  must  now  address  myself,  as  I  promised, 
more  particularly  to  young  ladies,  and  other  general 
readers. 

This  class  of  readers  must  use  the  outline  history 
and  the  works  of  Keightley  before  mentioned,  and 
study  according  to  the  method  explained  with  the  His- 
tory of  Rome.  They  may  be  satisfied  with  reading 
first  of  all  to  the  death  of  Alexander  the  Great.  To 
fill  up  their  outline,  they  should  read  the  Grecian  cha- 
racters in  Plutarch, — Xenophon's  "  Retreat  of  the 
Ten  Thousand,"  and  "History  of  Greece,"  which 
begins  where  Thucydides  leaves  off,  near  the  end  of 
the  Peloponnesian  war.  It  is  quite  certain,  for  rea- 
sons already  published  in  the  "  Student's  Guide," 
that  Xenophon  took  up  the  pen  exactly  where  Thu- 
cydides laid  it  down  ;  and  I  would  throw  out  as  a 
hint  for  scholars  to  investigate,  whether  the  difTerence 
observable  between  the  style  of  the  two  first  books 
of  the  "  Hellenics"  and  the  rest  of  Xenophon's  writ- 
ings does  not  show  an  attempt  to  continue  the  style 
as  well  as  the  matter  of  Thucydides.  On  the  Pelo- 
ponnesian War,  and  the  state  of  Greece  for  half  a 
century  preceding  it,  read  Thucydides.  Attend  par- 
ticularly to  the  curious  specimen  of  historical  criticism 
in  the  first  twenty  chapters  ;  to  all  the  speeches  ;  the 
plague  of  Athens  ;  the  sedition  of  Corcyra  ;  the  siege 
of  Platseae,  and  all  the  other  actions  by  land  and  sea  : 
and  read  attentively  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of 
the  Campaign  in  Sicily:  Hobbes's  translation,  which 
most  Oxford  men  possess,  has  a  summary  by  which 
these  portions  may  be  easily  selected.  Beloe's  Hero- 
dotus contains  the  materials  of  a  very  large  part  of 
ancient  history.  For  the  life  of  Alexander  the  Great 
read  the  work  of  Arrian,  to  whom  the  younger  Pliny 
addressed  several  of  his  epistles.  Arrian's  history  is 
founded  on  the  memoirs  of  Aristobulus  and  Ptolemy 
Lagus,  who  served  under  Alexander.  A  life  of  Alex- 
ander by  Williams,  in  the  "  Family  Library,"  is  well 
written.    Gain  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  route  at 


the  north  of  India  :  this  will  give  an  interest  to  Oriental 
travels  lately  written ;  especially  those  by  Sir  A. 
Burnes  and  Masson,  as  also  that  of  Vigne,  whose 
conjecture,  that  Cabul  is  the  same  as  Cau-Pol  (Kaux-d- 
oou  irdXts),  is,  as  Professor  Wilson  allowed,  highly  pro- 
bable. The  speeches  of  Demosthenes  "On  the 
Crown,"  and  his  three  "  Philippics,"  as  well  as  that 
orator's  life  by  Plutarch,  may  well  be  read  in  connec- 
tion with  the  history  of  Philip  of  Macedon.  I  should 
also  recommend  the  "  CEdipus  Tyrannus"  of  Sopho- 
cles, the  "Agamemnon"  of  ^schylus,  translated  by 
Symmonds,  and  the  "  Medea"  of  Euripides,  as  high- 
ly serviceable,  to  initiate  the  mind  into  the  mysteries 
of  Grecian  fable.  One  of  my  female  friends  has 
read  all  the  plays  of  these  authors.  You  may  also 
pick  your  way  through  some  of  the  dialogues  of  Plato, 
especially  the  "  Phaedon,"  and  Gillies's  translation 
of  Aristotle's  "  Politics."  As  to  the  rest  of  Ancient 
History,  instead  of  Rollin's  "Ancient  History," 
which,  like  Russell's  "  Modern  Europe,"'  tends,  as  I 
have  generally  observed,  rather  to  the  confusion  than 
the  diffusio7i  of  knowledge,  read  Heeren's  "Re- 
searches both  in  Asia  and  Africa."  This  course  of 
reading  may  seem  long ;  but  since  I  leave  each  per- 
son to  select,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  strength 
of  his  appetite  and  digestion,  I  must  say,  that  what 
is  here  proposed  requires  less  time  to  follow,  and  less 
perseverance  to  overtake,  than  RoUin's  "Ancient 
History."  Pope's  "  Homer"  I  need  hardly  men- 
tion ;  so  generally  is  it  known  and  read  by  both  young 
and  old.  See  Johnson's  sensible  criticism  on  it  in  his 
Hfe  of  Pope. 

I  will  now  conclude  my  observations  on  Grecian 
History  and  Ancient  History  generally,  with  remarks 
for  the  benefit  of  all  classes  of  readers.  The  reason 
I  extend  my  lists  of  books,  is  to  give  more  scope  for 
variety  of  taste  and  inclinations,  and  not  by  any  means 
to  dispense  with  the  rule,  not  to  read' too  much  to 
read  well. 

Egyptian  antiquities  deserve  especial  notice.  Or- 
pheus, Linus,  Musaeus,  Amphion,  Sanchoniathon  and 
Homer,  as  well  as  Pythagoras  and  Plato,  all  visited 
Egypt.  Solon,  too,  was  assisted  by  the  Egyptian 
priests:  and  it  was  in  Egypt  that  Herodotus  found 
abundance  to  gratify  his  inquiring  spirit.  From  Egypt 
came  the  religion  of  the  Greeks ;  and  whatever  in 
Grecian  mythology  seems  to  coincide  with  the  Law 
and  the  Prophets,  has  been  not  unreasonably  sup- 
posed to  have  been  derived  from  the  Egyptians,  and 
by  them  from  the  Israelites.  That  the  Egyptians  did 
receive  many  things  from  those  guardians  of  the  Ora- 
cles of  God,  can  indeed  hardly  be  doubted. 

lamblicus,  the  preceptor  of  Julian,  a.  r>.  360,  speaks 
of  "  the  inscriptions  on  the  ancient  columns  of  Her- 
mes, on  which  Plato  and  Pythagoras  formed  their 
philosophy."  Now  these  columns  existed  in  Egypt 
in  the  time  of  Proclus,  b.  c.  500 ;  and  on  them  were 
inscriptions  according  with  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity, 
as  is  ingeniously  explained  by  Serle,  in  his  "  Horae 
Solitarias,"  who  mentions  also  a  name  of  the  Deity 
"  as  near  as  translation  can  attain  to  Jehovah. ^^  If  I 
add  the  columns  mentioned  by  Procopius,  found  in 
the  part  of  Africa  where  the  Carthaginians  settled, 
inscribed,  "  We  are  they  that  fled  from  the  face  of 
Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun,  the  Robber,"  the  reader  can 
require  no  further  argument  to  show  the  interest 
which  must  attach  to  that  land  famed  for  wisdom  in 
the  days  of  Moses.  Therefore,  besides  Heeren's 
"African  Nations,"  Dr.  Pritchard's  "  Egyptian  My- 
thology" is  a  valuable  work.  I  see  an  analysis  of  it 
advertised,  with  a  preliminary  essay  by  Schlegel.  Sir 
G.  Wilkinson's  "  Private  Life,  Religion,  &c.,  of  the 
Ancient  Egyptians, "^  derived  from  a  study  of  their 
hieroglyphics  and  works  of  art  during  a  residence  of 
twelve  years,  and  published  with  600  illustrations,  is, 


'  Russell's  Modern  Europe,  3  vols.  8vo.  Harper 
&  Brothers,  New  York. 

2  Sir  G.  Wilkinson's  Egypt,  with  numerous  illus- 
trations, 6  vols.  8vo.    Murray,  London.  ^.^^ , 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


37 


much  recommended,  and  is,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  a 
very  valuable  work. 

Of  Travels  and  Modern  writings  for  students  of 
Grecian  History,  the  best  are  Dodweil's  "Topo- 
graphical and  Historical  Tour  through  Greece," 
Cell's  "Itinerary,"  and  Leake's  "  Travels."  Miil- 
ler's  "Dorians"  is  only  valuable  to  men  of  accurate 
classical  reading;  university  students  should  read  it  in 
connection  with  Herodotus  and  Thucydides.  The 
articles  on  Athens  and  Greece  in  the  "  Penny  Cyclo- 
paedia," are  very  usefully  composed.  Miiller's  "  Attica 
and  Athens"  has  lately  been  translated  by  J.  Ingram 
Lockhart.  Stuart's  "  Antiquities  of  Athens,"  with 
seventy  plates,  is  valuable  :  but  a  glance  at  M«.  Words- 
worth's "  Greece,"  will  show  that  he  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  contents  of  all  travels  and  works  on 
Greece  existing  at  the  lime  he  wrote.  Fla.vman's 
"Lectures  on  Sculpture,"  and  the  "Specimens  of 
Ancient  Sculpture,  selected  from  different  collections 
of  Great  Britain  by  the  Society  of  Dilettanti,"  as  well 
as  the  Townley,  Elgin,  and  Phigaleian  Marbles,  in 
the  "Library  of  Entertaining  Knowledge,"  should  be 
consulted  on  the  arts  of  Greece. 

A  "  History  of  the  Literature  of  Greece,"  by  Miiller, 
will  be  found  in  the  "  Library  of  Useful  Knowledge." 
Lastly,  I  would  recommend  my  readers  to  gain  a 
clear  knowledge  of  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  seve- 
ral parts  of  Greece,  especially  Attica  ;  and  to  compare 
every  measurement  with  that  of  some  town  or  county 
of  England. 

I  have  now  said  enough  on  the  subject  of  history. 
There  are  doubtless  many  other  topics  and  writers 
deserving  notice,  no  less  than  some  on  which  I  have 
been  most  explicit.  These,  as  I  said  before,  the 
reader  who  comprehends  the  principle  of  the  preced- 
ing observations,  will  readily  discover,  and  study 
systematically  without  any  more  a.ssistance.  I  am  only 
afraid  that  the  variety  of  subjects  and  books  already 
mentioned  should  tempt  young  persons  to  try  too 
much.  The  first  thing  tp  consider  is,  for  what  pur- 
pose you  are  commencing  a  course  of  study.  If  to 
humour  a  literary  ambition,  to  be  thought  learned,  and 
excite  the  wonder  of  the  ignorant,  believe  me,  that  till 
you  abandon  this  vile  and  degrading  purpose,  your 
vanity  will  increase  faster  than  your  learning ;  what 
you  gain  in  head  you  will  lose  in  heart ;  your  mind 
will  be  filled,  but  not  refined ;  and  you  will  excite  far 
more  jealousy  than  admiration.  Read,  as  Bacon  said, 
"for  the  glory  of  your  Creator  and  the  relief  of  man's 
estate  ;"  to  improve  your  talents  for  running  the  race 
that  is  set  before  you,  to  prevent  that  periodical  void 
within,  which  (like  a  vacuum)  is  doomed  to  fill,  and 
that  with  gnawing  cares  and  soul-debasing  thoughts. 
That  is  true  of  our  faculsies,  which  an  old  officer  lold 
me  of  his  men,  that  there  was  no  such  security  for 
good  behaviour  as  active  service.  The  lusts  of  the 
flesh  maintain  "  a  long  pull,  and  a  strong  pull,  and  a 
pull  altogether,"  one  way;  and  while  reason,  con- 
science, and  religion,  are  arrayed  against  them,  the 
balance  may  be  preserved.  But  when  these  guards 
are  not  on  duty,  or  perchance  are  slumbering  at  their 
post,  it  is  well  if  the  history  of  the  past,  or  some  such 
innocent  recreation,  employs  our  memory  and  engages 
our  imagination  ;  because  should  these  allies  be  gloat- 
i  ing  over  old  pleasures  or  devising  new,  they  will  be 
playing  on  such  dangerous  ground  that  they  may 
I  rouse  up  the  enemy,  and  the  citadel  may  be  taken  by 
i  surprise. 

Again,  in  following  out  one  course  of  reading,  do 
I  not  be  put  out  of  your  way  through  impatience,  nor  be 
disturbed  because  you  do  not  seem  to  be  advancing  as 
rapidly  as  others.  Among  the  many  who  desire  to  be 
I  thought  literary  characters,  nothing  is  more  common 
I  than  an  inclination  to  lock  up  the  temple  of  knowledge 
'  and  throw  away  the  key ;  or,  on  attaining  any  emi- 
i  nence,  to  kick  away  the  ladder  that  none  may  follow 
j  them. — So  beware  of  this  class  of  literary  impostors  : 
I  their  life  is  one  continued  lie ; — a  lie  partly  posi- 
!  live,  because  they  pretend  they  know  far  more  than 
i  they  do  know ;  and  partly  a  lie  indirect,  but  much 
I  more  mischievous,  because  they  seek  to  magnify  dif- 


ficulties, hint  that  things  are  not  so  easy  as  they  seeni, 
and  pretend  that  a  peculiar  talent  is  required  for  their 
favourite  subjects.  In  every  department  of  knowledge 
the  man  really  proficient  is  ever  desirous  to  lead  others 
on;  and,  forgetting  all  the  difficulties  he  encountered, 
firmly  believes,  and  as  honestly  confesses,  he  could 
teach  his  friends  in  half  the  time  his  learning  cost  him- 
self. 

We  should  employ  our  minds  with  history,  in  the 
same  way  as  we  should  have  done  had  we  lived  in  the 
limes  described.  We  need  not  make  a  walking  cyclo- 
pcedia  of  ourselves,  nor  feel  more  in  honour  bound  to 
remember  every  date  or  circumstance  of  foreign  reigns, 
than  every  event  in  last  year's  newspapers.  We 
should  read  for  the  same  purpose  that  we  enter  society, 
to  observe.  The  wisdom  of  the  lesson  may  be  remem- 
bered when  the  facts  are  lost ;  and  the  moral  remain, 
though  we  forget  the  fable.  The  portions  of  history 
which  enter  into  common  conversation  are  limited, 
and  experience  will  soon  induce  us  to  give  them  more 
attention  than  the  rest.  No  man  may  be  ashamed  to 
say,  when  his  memory  is  at  fault,  "  this  or  that  has 
escaped  me  ;  let  nie  ask  a  question  or  two,  and  I  shall 
be  able  to  follow  you."  Few  persons  are  soill-bredas 
to  introduce  abstruse  subjects  into  general  society.  If 
you  join  a  party  of  antiquaries  you  must  expect  aiiti- 
quarian  topics  ;  otherwise  no  man  of  ordinary  reading 
can  be  at  a  loss  for  facts  while  he  has  the  power  of  j 
reasoning  and  reflection.  Next  to  the  improvement  ^ 
and  entertainment  of  your  own  lYiind,  your  design  ; 
should  be  to  inform  yourself  on  the  general  topics  of 
conversation.  Read  about  the  North  of  India,  Spain, 
Ireland,  or  any  other  part  of  the  world  interesting  at 
the  time  present.  To  read  only  of  the  past  is  to  be 
always  out  of  fashion,  and  as  uninteresting  as  an  old 
newspaper.  Men  of  extensive  reading  find  their  chief 
advantage  in  this ;  not  that  they  remember  all  they 
read,  but  that  they  know  exactly  where  to  seek  for 
information,  and  can  with  a  little  trouble  bring  to  bear 
on  the  prevailing  topic  of  the  day  such  stores  of  varied 
knowledge  as  others  would  be  quite  at  a  loss  to  find. 

The  following  questions  on  history  will  be  very 
useful  to  university  students,  and  not  without  interest 
10  others.  They  will  also  illustrate  a  few  remarks  I 
have  to  offer  in  the  next  chapter. 

HISTORICAL   QUESTIONS. 

1.  What  was  Wolf'stheory  of  the  Homeric  poems? 
What  arguments  may  be  urged  for  or  against  it,  espe- 
cially from  internal  evidence,  and  the  character  of  the 
earliest  poetry  ? 

2.  The  influence  of  Socrates  on  the  succeeding 
schools  of  philosophy. 

3.  An  account  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  systems  of 
colonization,  particularly  of  the  latter. 

4.  Show  from  the  historians  and  philosophers  in 
what  points  law,  and  in  what  rehgion,  pohtically  in- 
fluenced the  Greeks. 

5.  The  chief  events,  with  dates,  in  the  earlier  part 
of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First,  which  led  to  the  civil 
war.  What  was  the  Petition  of  Rights,  and  what  the 
Bill  of  Rights? 

6.  The  respective  claims  of  Edward  IV.  and  Henry 
VI.  to  the  English  throne,  and  the  political  effect  of 
the  Wars  of  the  Roses. 

7.  Some  account  of  Louis  XI.  and  Philip  Augustus, 
wiih  dates.  With  what  English  kings  were  they  con- 
nected, and  how  ? 

8.  The  rights  and  influence  of  the  free  towns  in  the 
middle  ages. 

[Balliol  Fellowship,  1S42.] 

1.  Examine  the  geographical  account  of  Africa  as 
given  by  Herodotus,  and  illustrate  it  by  reference  to 
modern  discoveries. 

2.  Trace  the  course  of  political  legislation  at  Athens 
from  the  time  of  Draco  to  Pericles. 

3.  Give  some  account  of  the  Persian  empire  under 
Darius  Hystaspes,  in  respect  to  its  military  and  finan- 
cial system. 

D 


38 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


4.  Compare  the  policy  observed  respectively  by 
Thebes  and  Argos  on  the  invasion  of  Greece  by 
Xerxes,  and  account  for  it. 

5.  How  far  has  the  peace  of  Antalcidas  deserved 
the  reproach  of  having  been  a  breach  of  political  mo- 
rality on  the  part  of  Sparta  ? 

6.  What  was  the  nature  of  the  Consular  Tribunate 
at  Rome  ?  What  circumstances  led  to  its  establish- 
ment, and  to  its  discontinuance  ? 

7.  The  history  of  Maccdon  from  the  battle  of  Chae- 
ronea  to  that  of  Pydna,  with  the  dates  of  the  chief 
events. 

8.  What  was  the  nature  of  the  Decemviral  legis- 
lation at  Rome,  of  the  Jus  Flavianum,  and  of  the  or- 
dinances passed  by  Sylla  ? 

9.  The  character  of  the  commerce  carried  on  be- 
tween Europe  and  Asia  in  the  reign  of  Justinian. 

10.  The  extent  of  the  empire  of  Charlemagne,  and 
its  division  on  his  death. 

11.  What  chief  circumstances  led  to  the  decay  of 
the  power  of  Venice  ? 

12.  Give  some  account  of  the  chief  events  of  Euro- 
pean interest  in  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V. 
of  Germany. 

[University  College  Scholarships,  1841.] 


,     1.  The  different  theories  of  the  origin  of  the  Pelasgi, 
with  the  arguments  which  support  them. 

2.  An  account  of  Grecian  politics  at  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  Leuctra. 

3.  The  sources  of  Roman  law,  explaining  Plebiscita 
— Senatus-Consulta — Edicta — Decreta  Principum — 
and  Auctoritas  Prudentium — the  Code,  Pandects, 
and  Novels  of  Justinian. 

4.  A  sketch  of  the  life  of  Charlemagne. 

5.  The  origin  and  functions  of  the  Courts  of  Com- 
mon Pleas,  Exchequer,  and  Queen's  Bench. 

6.  An  account  of  the  Albigenses,  the  Crusade 
against  them,  and  Raymond  of  Toulouse. 

7.  The  causes  of  the  decline  of  the  Spanish  mo- 
narchy at  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century. 

8.  Arrange  the  languages  of  modern  Europe  ac- 
cording to  their  families  ;  mentioning  briefly  the  chief 
elements  that  enter  into  each. 

9.  The  chief  demands  of  the  English  Parliament  at 
the  commencement  of  the  Civil  War. 

10.  A  brief  account  of  the  following  persons :  Ti- 
berius Gracchus — Julian— Alcuin — Ansclm  of  Can- 
terbury— Ximenes — Thomas  Cromwell — Richelieu 
— Lord  Somers. 

11.  Chief  events  in  England,  and  on  the  Continent, 
during  the  administration  of  the  first  Pitt,  from  1756 
to  1761. 

[Balliol  Fellowship,  1841.] 


1.  An  account  of  the  Pelasgian,  Hellenian,  and 
Achaean  nations  in  Greece. 

2.  The  Messenian  wars. 

3.  The  chief  points  in  the  legislation  of  Solon. 

4.  Dates  and  circumstances  of  the  battles  of  Plataea 
— jEgospotami — the  Allia — Thrasymene — Philippi — 
Poictiers — Naseby — Blenheim — the  Boyne. 

5.  Sketch  of  the  life  of  Cicero,  referring,  if  you  can, 
to  his  works. 

6.  An  account  of  Louis  XI.  and  Gustavus  Adol- 
phus,  with  the  chief  events  of  the  end  of  the  four- 
teenth century. 

7.  What  parts  of  France  were  possessed  by  Hen- 
ry II.,  Edward  III.,  and  Henry  VIII.,  and  on  what 
were  their  claims  to  them  grounded? 

8.  The  plot  and  chief  characters  of  Shakspeare's 
Henrv  VHI. 

[Bailiol  Scholarship,  1842.] 


Questions  selected  from  Examinations  for  Scholar- 
ships at  Oxford,  chiefly  those  of  Trinity  College. 

GRECIAN  HISTORY. 
1.  From  what  classical  writers  is  Grecian  history 
chiefly  derived  ? 


2.  State  the  several  accessions  and  advantages 
which  gave  the  Athenians  the  supremacy  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Peloponnesian  war. 

3.  Write  the  life  and  times  of  Pericles. 

4.  State  the  chief  events  between  the  Persian  and 
Peloponnesian  wars. 

5.  Give  the  character  of  Herodotus  as  an  historian, 
as  to  industry,  judgment,  style,  and  power  of  compo- 
sition. ( This  is  only  to  be  attempted  by  those  who  can 
answer  from  Herodotus' s  works,  and  not  merely  re- 
peal the  opinions  of  others.) 

6.  Slate  the  several  periods  in  the  Peloponnesian 
war  in  which  the  Athenians  had  most  reason  to  hope 
or  to  fear  the  issue. 

7.  Relate  the  life  and  intrigues  of  Alcibiades. 

8.  What  countries  were  successively  the  scenes 
of  action  during  this  war,  and  say  briefly  what  led  to 
the  several  changes  of  the  scene  ? 

9.  Give,  by  reference  to  parts  of  England,  the  geo- 
graphical extent  of  Attica, — of  the  Peloponnese  re- 
spectively ;  also  of  that  part  of  N.  Greece  which  lies 
between  the  Isthmus  of  Corinth  and  a  hne  drawn  east 
and  west  through  Mount  Athos. 

10.  Give  an  outline  of  the  Grecian  history  between 
the  end  of  the  Peloponnesian  war  and  the  death  of 
Alexander. 

11.  Explain  the  constitution  of  Athens  and  Sparta 
respectively.  Explain  Ephor,  Archon,  Dicast,  Pro- 
xenus,  Metceci,  Helot,  Agora,  Pnyx,  Areopagus, 
Amphictyonic  Council.  (Answer  from  your  reading, 
and  not  from  Potter.) 

ROMAN  HISTORY. 

1.  Explain  Plebs,  Patres,  Tribunes,  and  Inter- 
regnum, and  the  early  constitution  of  Rome,  as  es- 
tabhshed  by  late  writers. 

2.  Show  the  several  concessions  which  established 
the  power  of  the  Plebeians. 

3.  What  were  the  Agrarian  laws  ? 

4.  From  what  authorities  is  the  history  to  the  end 
of  the  republic  derived  ?  State  any  arguments  you 
know  for  or  against  the  credibility  of  the  early  history 
of  Rome. 

5.  Give  the  various  changes  in  the  Roman  consti- 
tution, their  effects  and  causes. 

6.  Trace  the  gradual  extension  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire ;  relating  the  time  and  manner  of  each  accession. 

7.  Give  briefly  the  causes,  chief  characters,  and 
events  of  the  three  Punic  wars  successively. 

8.  Give  the  lives  of  Maecenas,  Cicero,  and  Juliua 
Caesar —  Ovid  —  Virgil  —  Horace — Livy — Juvenal — 
Tacitus. 

9.  The  dates  and  circumstances  of  the  battles  of 
Actium,  Philippi,  and  Cannae. 

10.  The  names  and  dates  of  the  Roman  emperors, 
with  the  character  of  each,  and  chief  events  of  their 
respective  reigns.  (Express  this  in  one  or  two  lines 
for  each  reign.) 

ENGLISH  HISTORY. 

1.  How  long  did  the  Romans  remain  in  Britain? 

2.  Explain  the  feudal  system — the  provisions  of  the 
Magna  Charta,  and  on  what  it  was  founded. 

3.  The  circumstances  and  parties  of  the  battles  of    | 
Hastings,    Wakefield    Green,    Bosworth,    Flodden  \ 
Field,  Marston  Moor,  Worcester,  Boyne,   Quebec, 
Minden,  Blenheim,  Malplaquet,  Aboukir,  Trafalgar, 
Copenhagen,  and  Waterloo. 

4.  What  was  the  peace  of  Ryswick — Amiens- 
Treaty  of  Utrecht— Bill  of  Rights — Act  of  Settle- 
ment? 

5.  Give  the  history  of  the  Union  of  England  and 
Scotland  and  England  and  Ireland. 

6.  The  Revolution  of  1688. 

7.  The  causes  of  the  French  Revolution. 

8.  The  history  of  the  war  with  the  American  co- 
lonies. 

9.  What  do  you  understand  by  the  East  India 
Company? 

10.  Give  an  account  of  the  Reformation  in  England. 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


39 


11.  What  happened  in  the  years  1715, and  1745 
respectively  f 

12.  How  came  England  concerned  in  the  Conti- 
nental war,  and  how  did  it  spring  out  of  the  Frencli 
Revolution  ? 

13.  At  what  period  during  that  war  had  we  most 
to  contend  with  ? 


HOW  TO   REMEMBER  WHAT  WE   READ. 

Most  readers,  I  presume,  will  open  this  chapter 
with  no  little  curiosity  and  a  feeling  which  would  be 
expressed  by  these  words:  "My  memory  is  bad 
enough — would  it  were  as  good  as  that  of  such  a  one 
of  my  friends.  Let  me  see  if  there  can  be  any  rules  to 
suit  so  bad  a  case  as  mine."  Now,  before  you  decide 
that  you  have  a  worse  memory  than  your  friend,  let  me 
ask.  Is  there  no  one  subject  on  which  you  can  equal 
him  ?  You  have  no  doubt  observed  that  a  large  class  of 
men  who  are  devoted  exclusively  and  literally  to  animal 
pursuits,  sportsmen  to  wit,  have  the  greatest  difficulty 
in  remembering  matters  of  history  or  general  litera- 
ture, but  yet  are  so  ready  with  the  names  of  all  the 
winners  of  the  Derby,  Oaks,  or  St.  Ledger,  and  the 
progeny  and  pedigree  of  each,  that  a  scholar  would 
be  as  much  surprised  at  their  memory  of  horses  and 
mares,  as  they  could  be  at  the  scholar's  memory  of 
kings  and  queens.  Probably  you  will  now  say,  "All 
this  we  grant ;  it  is  true  we  have  memory  for  some 
things,  but  not  for  literature."  Your  meaning  is, 
that  you  have  memory  whei^  you  have  attention. 
The  sportsman  cannot  attend  to  books,  nor  the  scholar 
to  horses.  The  art  of  memory  is  the  art  of  attention. 
A  memory  for  literature  will  increase  with  that  inte- 
rest in  literature  by  which  attention  is  increased. 
The  sportsman  could  remember  pages  of  history  re- 
lating to  forest  laws  or  encouragement  of  the  breed 
of  horses,  but  not  the  adjoining  pages  on  the  law  of 
succession,  and  only  because  he  felt  an  interest,  and 
consequently  paid  attention,  in  reading  the  one  but 
not  the  other. 

Again,  Memory  depends  on  association,  or  the 
tendency  of  some  things  to  suggest  or  make  us  think 
of  others.  The  geologist  remembers  fossils,  but  not 
flowers,  and  the  botanist  flowers,  but  not  fossils. 
Each  has  in  his  mind  "a  cell"  for  the  one  specimen, 
but  not  for  the  other ;  and  the  observations  which  fall 
in  with  the  ideas  of  the  geologist,  and  link  to  many  a 
subtle  chain  of  thought,  remain  alone  and  unasso- 
ciated  in  the  mind  of^lhe  botanist.  Association  cer- 
tainly is,  in  some  respects,  an  aid  to  attention  ;  they 
are  usually  considered  as  distinct  and  the  basis  of 
Memory;  therefore,  every  rule  I  can  give  for  pro- 
moting either  attention  or  association  will  be  virtu- 
ally rules  for  Memory. 

Memory  is  assisted  hy  whatever  tends  to  a  full  view 
and  clear  apprejiension  of  a  subject.  Therefore,  in 
reading  history,  occasionally  lay  the  book  aside,  and 
try  if  you  can  give  a  connected  narrative  of  events. 
"What  thou  doest  not  know,  thou  canst  not  tell," 
but  clear  ideas  never  want  plain  words.  Do  not  be 
satisfied  with  feeling  that  the  subject  is  too  familiar 
for  repetition  to  be  necessary.  The  better  a  story  is 
known,  the  less  time  it  will  take  to  repeat.  Put  your 
"  thoughts  in  express  words."  This  is  an  invaluable 
exercise ;  for,  first  of  all,  you  will  greatly  improve 
your  power  of  expression,  and  gain  that  command 
of  language  on  which  one  of  my  friends  heard  Fox 
compliment  Pitt,  as  having  not  only  a  word  but  the 
word,  the  very  word  to  express  his  meaning.  Second- 
ly, the  practice  of  putting  your  thoughts  into  words 
will  improve  your  power  of  Conception.  When  you 
see  a  speaker,  in  a  long  argument,  contract  and  fix 
his  eye  as  if  on  some  aerial  form,  he  is  trying  to  body 
forth  his  ideas  and  hold  them  up  as  a  picture  from 
which  he  may  select,  read  off,  and  lay  before  his 
hearers  such  portions  as  he  thinks  will  convey  the 
desired  impression.  Conception  is  the  quality  for 
which  we  call  a  man  "clear-headed;"  for  this  en- 
ables him  to  grasp  at  one  view  the  beginning,  middle, 
and  end  of  what  he  means  to  say,  and  have  the  order- 


of  his  ideas  at  the  direction  of  a  cool  judgment  in- 
stead of  depending  upon  chance. 
"  Ut  jam  nunc  dicat  jam  nunc  debentia  dici, 
Plcraquatdifferrat  pricsensque  in  tempus  omiltat." 

IIOB. 

To  repeat  a  narrative  to  another  is  better  still  than 
repealing  it  to  yourself;  you  are  more  excited  to 
accuracy,  and  your  memory  is  assisted  by  the  degree 
of  attention  and  association  which  casual  remarks  and 
questions  may  promote.  After  walking  round  Christ 
Church  Meadow  with  a  late  fellow  of  Exeter  College, 
relating  the  fortunes  of  the  Athenians  in  Sicily,  the 
very  trees  seemed  vocal,  and  one  weather-beaten  elm 
at  the  left-hand  corner  of  the  avenue  next  the  Cher- 
well  so  regularly  reminded  us  of  Nicias,  that  we  used 
to  say  it  afforded  an  unanswerable  argument  for  the 
transmigration  of  souls. 

With  a  view  to  distinct  conception.  Writing  is  usu- 
ally recommended  to  aid  memory.  As  to  mere  tran- 
scribing, though  much  has  been  advanced  in  its  favour, 
I  believe  it  is  by  no  means  to  be  adopted.  Much  ex-  j 
perience  has  shown  me  that  it  not  only  wastes  time, 
but  deceives  us  as  to  the  extent  of  our  knowledge. 
We  are  flattered  at  the  sight  of  the  paper  we  hll, 
while  in  reality  we  are  exercising  not  our  wits  but 
our  fingers.  Every  University  student  knows  how 
common  it  is  to  find  men  of  misguided  industry  with 
desks  full,  and  heads  empty.  Writing  never  aids 
memory  but  when  it  tends  to  clear  Conception.  Most  J 
persons  find  it  more  pleasant  to  draw  a  sketch  of  a  !■ 
subject  on  a  sheet  of  paper  than  on  the  tablets  of  the 
mind,  but  let  them  not  suppose  it  is  more  improving. 
When  you  want  relief  or  variety,  you  may  try  to 
write,  instead  of  repeating  the  subject  of  your  morn- 
ing's reading  ;  but  you  will  soon  admit  that  the  vivA 
voce  exercise  is  the  better  of  the  two.  In  speaking 
of  Conception,  Abercrombie  relates  the  case  of  a  dis- 
tinguished actor  who  created  great  surprise  by  learn- 
ing a  long  part  with  very  short  notice.  "  When 
questioned  respecting  the  mental  process  which  he 
employed,  he  said  that  he  lost  sight  entirely  of  the 
audience,  and  seemed  lo  have  nothing  before  him  but 
the  pages  of  the  book  from  which  he  had  learnt,  and 
that,  if  any  thing  had  occurred  to  interrupt  that  illu- 
sion, he  should  have  stopped  instantly." 

Secondly.  Memory  is  assisted  hy  whatever  adds  to 
our  interest  or  entertainment.  Therefore  all  the  re- 
marks I  have  made  relative  to  being  guided  by  curi- 
osity and  inclination  are  hints  for  memory.  A  man 
rarely  forgets  a  fact  which  he  hears  in  answer  to  a 
question  he  has  himself  originated;  and  the  art  of 
reading  is,  to  gain  facts  in  such  order  that  each  shall 
be  a  nucleus  or  basis,  as  Abercrombie  says,  of  more  ; 
in  other  words,  that  every  fact  may  be  an  answer  to 
some  question  already  in  our  minds,  and  suggest  in 
its  turn  a  new  question  in  an  endless  series. 

Thirdly.  Memory  depends  mitch  on  a  thorcnigh  de- 
termination to  remember.  Most  persons  have  me- 
mory enough  for  the  purpose  of  their  own  business. 
Ask  the  guard  of  the  mail  how  he  remembers  the 
places  at  which  he  has  to  drop  his  many  parcels,  and 
he  will  tell  you,  "because  he  must."  And  if  you 
put  the  same  question  to  any  number  of  different 
persons  whose  fortunes  depend  on  the  constant  ex- 
ercise of  memory,  you  will  invariably  receive  similar 
answers,  which  is  a  proof  from  experience  that  our 
memory  depends  very  much  on  our  own  will  and  de- 
termination. If,  by  the  force  of  resolution,  a  person 
can  wake  at  any  hour  in  the  morning,  it  is  easy  to 
believe,  that,  by  the  same  means,  he  may  also  have 
a  powerful  command  over  his  memory.  While  at  the 
University,  I  had  a  very  remarkable  proof  of  this.  I 
was  assisting  in  his  studies  previous  to  examination  a 
friend  who  assured  me  he  could  not  remember  what 
he  read ;  that  such  had  been  the  case  during  fourteen 
University  terms.  But  I  said,  "  Now  you  must  re- 
member,— I  know  you  can, — and  I  will  have  no  more 
to  do  with  you  if  you  do  not  answer  me  correctly 
to-morrow  on  what  we  read  to-day." 

Having  rallied  him  in  this  way,  I  heard  no  moreot 
the  complaint.    After  his  examination  he  assured  me       h. 


40 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


that  he  was  perfectly  surprised  at  the  extent  to  which 
his  inflmory  had  served  him,  and  fairly  acknowledged 
iluu  lor  years  he  had  given  way  to  a  stale  of  mental 
inactivity,  never  stopping  to  try  his  memorj*,  but  drink- 
\)tg  of  the  Castalian  stream  rather  after  the  manner  of 
Baron  Munchausen's  horse  when  he  h'ld  lost  his 
liiiider  quarters  with  the  portcullis.  A  nun  can  re- 
member to  a  great  extent,  just  as  Johnson  said  a  man 
inigut  at  any  time  compose,  mastering  his  humour,  if 
he  will  only  set  to  work  wiih  a  dogt^ed  determination  : 
"  Fossinit  quia  posse  vide/itur,"  "for  they  can  con- 
q^'.cr  who  believe  they  can,"  is  very  generally  true 
wlicre  the  mind  is  concerned.  A  very  cammon  reason 
that  men  do  not  remember  is,  that  they  do  not  try;  a 
hearty  and  ever-present  desire  to  prevail  is  the  chief 
element  of  all  success.  Nothing  but  the  fairy's  wand 
can  realize  the  capricious  desire  of  the  moinent,  bat  as 
to  the  objects  of  laudable  wishes,  deeply  breat'ied  and 
for  many  a  night  an  1  day  ever  present  to  the  mind, 
these  are  placed  by  Providence  more  within  our  reach 
than  is  commonly  believed.  When  a  person  says,  If 
I  could  only  have  my  wish  I  would  excel  in  such  an 
art  or  science,  we  may  generally  answer,  The  truth 
is,  you  have  no  such  wish  ;  all  you  covet  is  the  empty 
applause,  not  the  substantial  accomplishment.  The 
fault  is  "in  ourselves  and  notour  .stars,"  if  we  are 
slaves  and  blindly  yield  to  the  pretensions  of  the  many 
whose  tongues  would  exhaust  wiser  heads  than  their 
own  in  half  an  hour.  Before  we  complain  of  want  of 
power  and  mental  weapons,  let  us  be  sure  that  we 
make  full  use  of  what  we  have.  When  we  see  one 
mati  write  without  hands,  and  another  qualify  himself 
(as  in  an  instance  within  my  own  remembrance)  for 
high  University  honours  without  eyes,  a  complaint  of 
our  memory,  or  other  faculties,  justifies  the  same  con- 
clusion as  when  workmen  complain  of  their  tools. 

These,  or  at  least  other  instances  equally  surprising, 
are  founded  on  good  authority.  Still,  Abercrombie 
justly  says,  that  though  the  power  of  remembering 
unconnected  facts  and  lists  of  words  makes  a  great 
show,  and  is  the  kind  of  memory  most  generally  ad- 
mired, siill  it  is  often  combined  with  very  little  judg- 
ment, and  is  not  so  important  a  feature  in  a  cultivated 
miiid,  as  that  memory  founded  on  the  relations,  ana- 
logies, und  natural  connections  of  different  subjects, 
which  is  more  in  our  osvn  power.  Indeed,  mere  par- 
rot memory  is  of  less  use  than  is  generally  supposed. 
It  is  true,  it  enables  a  superficial  person  to  pass  ofl'lhe 
opinions  of  others  as  his  own;  but  educated  men  can 
generally  remember  enough  for  their  own  purposes, 
and  can  command  data  sufficient  for  the  operaMons  of 
their  judjjment.  What  we  most  want  ready  and 
available  is  the  power  and  the  science,  not  the  tools. 
A  mathematician  is  such  still  without  his  formulag  and 
diagrams.  The  oldest  judge  remembers  the  rules  of 
law,  though  he  forgets  the  case  in  point,  and  ihe  ablest 
counsel  are  allowed  refreshers.  Surely  it  is  enough 
that  our  minds,  like  our  guns,  carry  true  to  the  mark 
without  being  always  loaded. 

Fourthly.  ISlemory  is  assisted  hy  whatever  tends  to 
connection  or  association  of  ideas.  When  I  asked  the 
friend  above  mentioned  the  particular  means  he  took 
to  remember  his  lectures  previous  to  examination,  he 
said,  that  besides  looking  every  thing  "  more  fully  in 
the  face"  than  he  had  ever  done  before,  he  tried  "  to 
match,  sort,  and  put  alongside  of  something  similar." 
each  event  in  its  turn,  and  also  to  say  to  him.'=elf, 
"  Here  arc  four  or  five  causes,  circumstances,  or  cha- 
racters relating  to  the  same  thing;  by  such  a  pecu- 
liarity in  the  first  I  shall  remember  the  second,  while 
something  else  in  the  second  will  remind  me  of  the 
third  and  fourth  "  During  this  process,  he  said,  he 
bec&me  so  f-imiliar  with  many  facts,  ihat  he  could 
remember  without  any  association  at  all.  Agnin,  in 
all  the  works  and  phenomena  of  nature,  moral  or  phy- 
sical, men  of  comprehensive  minds  discern  a  marked 
family  likeness  ;  certain  facts  indicate  the  existeni^eof 
others;  so  that  memory  is  assisted  by  a  certain  key 
which  classification  suggests:  and  thus  one  effort  of 
memory  serves  for  all.  Association  and  .Xttcniion  are 
both  the  basis  of  several  inventions  called  Memoria 


Techiica,  of  which  I  will  proceed  to  speak,  more  par- 
ticularly {(jr  the  benefit  of  students  preparing  for  ex- 
aminations, and  those  who  would  follow  out  my  plan 
of  attaining  accuracy  of  outlines  of  history  and  other 
subjects. 

Of  Memoria  Technica,  the  practice  of  almost  all 
men  ol  distinction  coincides  with  the  avowed  opinions 
of  Bacon  and  of  Abercrombie,  that  the  memory  of 
such  events  as  these  systems  teach  is  scarcely  worth 
the  process;  and  that  the  same  degree  of  resolution 
which  their  use  implies  would  supersede  the  necessity 
of  them,  except  to  that  extent  only  to  which  every  man 
of  sense  can,  and  commonly  does,  frame  the  best  pos- 
sible Memoria  Technica,  namely,  one  suited  to  his 
peculiar  cast  of  mind.  Of  such  kinds  are  the  fol- 
lowing : — 

First.  Looking  at  names  in  the  index  of  a  history, 
and  following  each  separately  through  all  the  events 
with  which  it  is  connected.  "This  plan  with  Herodotus 
and  Thucydides  I  found  invaluable.  It  aids  Memory 
most  powerfully  and  leads  to  comparison  and  valuable 
reflection. 

Secondly.  Marking  the  names,  words,  or  paragraphs, 
in  your  book,  or  numbering  the  separate  arguments 
by  figures  1,  2,  and  3,  in  the  margin.  This  I  found 
useful  not  only  with  history  but  especially  with  Aris- 
totle, and  other  works  of  science.  It  tends  to  distinct 
conception;  to  many  casual  associations;  you  some- 
times fancy  you  see  the  page  itself  marked  with  your 
own  figures,  and  then  one  event  reminds  you  of 
another ;  it  also  enables  you  easily  to  refresh  your 
memory  of  a  book  wWle  you  leisurely  turn  over  the 
pages  ;  above  all,  it  keeps  ever  present  to  your  mind, 
what  many  students  do  not  think  of  once  a  month, 
that  reading  and  remembering  are  two  different  things. 

Thirdly.  Making  a  very  brief  summary  of  the  con- 
tents of  each  book,  and  thinning  it  by  degrees  as  your 
memory  can  do  with  few  catchwords  as  well  as  many. 
This  plan  answers  many  of  the  same  purposes  as  the 
preceding  ;  it  is  valuable  to  one  who  is  preparing  him- 
self to  write  off-hand  the  history  of  any  century  re- 
quired. Take  one  sheet  of  paper  and  write  words 
enough  on  it  to  remind  you  of  the  whole  Outline  His- 
tory, and  after  a  month,  try  if  a  much  more  portable 
skeleton-key  will  not  do  as  well,  and  this  inay  be  re- 
duced in  its  turn  till  the  whole  has  become  transferred 
from  the  paper  to  your  memory.  Thus  Niebuhr  ad- 
vised his  nephew  to  keep  a  list  of  difficulties  or  new 
words  and  blot  out  each  as  soon  as  he  could. 

Lastly,  associating  things  with  places  or  objects 
around  :  thus  th.i  Roman  orators  used  to  associate  the 
parts  of  their  speeches  with  the  statues  or  pillars  in  the 
building  in  which  they  spoke.  Let  my  readers  pre- 
pare a  "  skeleton-key"  of  each  of  the  three  Outline 
Histories,  of  England,  Rome,  and  Greece,  and  take 
a  walk  in  three  different  directions  with  each  ;  then 
will  they  find,  though  I  cannot  say  in  the  noble  sense 
in  which  Shakspeare  intended, — 

"Tongues  in  trees — books  in  the  running  brooks, 
Sermons  in  stones — and  good  in  every  thing." 

Gray's  "  Memoria  Technica"  for  dates  is  very  use- 
ful. But  it  must  be  used  for  kings  and  queens  only, 
the  dates  of  other  events  being  remeinbercd  by  asso- 
ciation. 

Example  is  better  than  precept.  What  man  has 
done,  man  may  do;  so  we  will  consider  a  few  anec- 
dotes of  men  famed  for  powers  and  memory. 

Xenophon,  in  his  "  Symposium,"  speaks  of  Athe- 
nians who  could  repeat  both  the  "Iliad"   and  the 
"  Odyssey."  This  statement  has  been  recommended      < 
to  the  consideration  of  those  who  assert  the  impossi-  jl 
bility  of  the  Homeric  poems  being  orally  transmitted,  fli 
What  was  practicable  for  one  man,  however  extra-    '<'' 
ordinary  a  character  he  might  be,  would  be  compara- 
tively easy  for  a  society  of  Rhapsodists,  if  each  mem- 
ber vvee  intrusted  with  the  memory  of  a  part. 

The  nation  that  exerts  memory  in  a  more  surprising 
manner  than  any  other  at  the  present  day  is  the 
Chinese.  Medhnrst,  in  describing  their  education, 
enumerates  nine  books  under  the  names  of  the  "Five 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


41 


Classics"  and  the   "  Four  Books."     The  Classics  I 
consist  of  a  Book  of  Diagrams ;  a  Collection  of  Odes ;  I 
The  Public  Ceremonies;    The  Life  of  Confucius;  I 
and  ihe  History  of  the  Three  Dynasties.     The  Four 
Books  are,  The  Happy  Medium ;   The  Great  Doc- 
trine; Book  of  Discourses  ;  andMencius:  the  bulk 
of  these  nine  is  equal  to  that  of  the  New  Testament ; 
and  yet,  says  Medhurst,  "  if  the  whole  were  lost,  one 
million   persons  (out  of  a    population  reckoned  at 
361,000,000)  could  restore  every  volume  to-morrow," 
Public  offices  in  China  depend  on  e-xamiiiation  in  these 
books.     Two  per  cent,  of  the  population  compete. 

At  Winchester  and  the  Charter  House  many  a  boy 
has  committed  to  memory  10,000  lines,  so  as  to  repeat 
from  any  part  at  which  he  was  told  to  begin. 

Matthews,  the  comedian,  as  we  are  told  by  his 
widow,  had  so  surprising  a  memory,  that  he  would 
go  through  an  entertainment  which  he  had  not  seen 
for  many  months.  He  has  even  been  known  to  step 
aside  as  the  curtain  drew  up,  to  ascertain  by  a  play- 
bill the  name  of  the  piece  advertised  for  the  evening  ; 
and  this,  strange  to  say,  at  a  time  when  he  was  suffer- 
ing so  much  from  cracks  on  the  tongue  that  he  had 
not  spoken  a  word  during  the  whole  day,  and  felt  the 
greatest  pain  in  uttering  what  the  audience  were  so 
delighted  to  hear. 

Addison's  daughter,  said  Lady  Montagu,  was 
nearly  imbecile,  yet  so  powerful  was  her  memory, 
that  she  could  repeat  a  sermon  which  she  had  heard 
once,  and  could  learn  pages  of  a  dictionary  by  heart. 

It  is  related  of  Bolingbroke  that  he  learned  Spanish 
enough  iii  three  weeks  to  correspond  with  the  Spanish 
minister. 

In  a  late  article  in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  on 
"Ignatius  Loyola  and  the  Jesuits,"'  it  is  mentioned 
as  indisputable  that  Xavier  learnt  one  of  the  Indian 
languages,  so  as  to  prepare  himself  for  bis  missionary 
duties,  in  the  same  space  of  time.  This  is  an  instance 
of  the  power  that  enthusiastic  determination  e.xerts 
over  memory.  To  the  same  pruiciple  must  we  also 
attribute  the  fact  that  the  Bishop  of  New  Zealand 
preached  to  the  natives  in  their  own  language  as  soon 
as  he  arrived,  having  studied  it  only  during  his  voyage. 
This  however,  though  highly  meritorious,  is  by  no 
means  so  surprising  a  case  as  that  of  Xavier. 

Eusehius  says  that  to  the  memory  of  Esdras  we  are 
indebted  for  the  Hebrew  Scriptures  which  were  de- 
stroyed by  the  Chaldajans.  St.  Anthony,  the  Egyp- 
tian hermit,  though  he  could  not  read,  knew  the 
whole  Scripture  by  heart ;  while  a  certain  Florentine, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen,  could  repeat  all  the  Papal  bulls 
and  much  more  rubbish — a  strange  instance  of  mis- 
used talent !  These  and  many  other  instances  of  me- 
mory are  given  in  Millingen's  "  Curiosities  of  Medi- 
cal Experience."  Seneca  tells  us  that  the  Emperor 
Hadrian  could  repeat  2000  words  in  the  order  he  heard 
them.  Petrarch  says  that  Pope  Clement  V.  had  his 
memory  impaired  by  a  fall  on  the  head  (an  accident 
which  has  been  known  to  give  a  good  memory  to  one 
who  had  little  before),  and  by  great  application  gained 
so  much  more  power  than  he  had  lost,  that  he  never 
forgot  any  thing  he  read.  Cicero  says,  "  LucuUus 
had  a  miraculcus  memory  for  events,  but  Hortensius 
had  a  better  memory  for  words."  Quiniilian  alludes 
to  the  well-known  fact  that  we  can  repeat  a  task 
more  perfectly  on  the  following  morning  than  on  the 
night  we  learn  it,  and  observes  that  things  digest  and 
settle  in  the  mind  during  sleep. 

Many  instances  are  recorded  of  men  losing  the  me- 
mory of  a  language  and  speaking  it  many  years  after, 
during  a  brain  fever  or  some  exciting  illness.  The 
truth  of  this  is  beyond  all  doubt,  though  it  seems  very 
much  Uke  the  tunes  being  thawed  out  of  the  frozen 
trumpet. 

Dr.  Abercrombie  knew  a  lady  seized  with  apo- 
plexy while  playing  at  cards  one  Thursday  evening, 
and  on  regaining  consciousness  early  on  Sunday 
morning  her  first  words  were,  "  What  are  trumps  ?" 


•  In  Stephen's  Miscellanies. 
6 


Carey  &  Hart. 


HOW  TO  GAIN  KNOWLEDGE  OF  FOREIGN 

PARTS.    ADDRESSED  BOTH  TO  THOSE 

WHO  TRAVEL  AND  THOSE  WHO  STAY 

AT  HOME. 

In  reading  travels,  as  in  travelling,  an  inquiring  and 
reflecting  mind  is  requisite  to  collect  facts  and  draw 
conclusions.  Much  letter-press  as  well  as  much 
ground  may  be  passed  over  without  rendering  us  any 
wiser  or  any  better.  Readers,  as  well  as  travellers, 
difi'er  widely  in  curiosity  and  observation  ;  therefore 
as  some  tourists  consult  Guides  and  Handbooks  to 
learn  what  to  visit  or  for  what  to  inquire,  and  others 
Miss  Martineau,  to  learn  "How  to  ob.=erve,"  so  for 
those  who  have  only  the  pleasure  of  thinking  about 
travelling,  perusing  the  tours  of  others,  and  laying 
down  the  exact  route  they  would  hke  to  take,  should 
some  next-to-impossible  contingency  occur, — to  these 
speculative  and  fireside  anglers  in  the  wide  waters  of 
the  round  world  I  will  offer  a  few  hints  suited  to  every 
variety  of  taste,  showing  how  to  gain  as  much  know- 
ledge as  possible  of  foreign  parts  without  foregoing  the 
comforts  of  home. 

Basil  Hall  advises  a  young  midshipman  to  begin  his 
career  by  "taking  up  a  hne,"  that  is  to  say,  to  re- 
solve onbuilding  up  a  character  either  for  practical 
seamanship,  for  science,  generalship,  or  diploniacy  ; 
so  readers  of  travels  should  begin  with  choosing  a 
topic  which  every  volume  may  contribute  to  illustrate. 
Instead  of  turning  over  thousands  of  pages  without  an 
object,  they  should  keep  some  one  subject  uppermost 
in  their  thoughts,  on  which  they  should  try  to  become 
so  well  informed  as  not  only  to  be  considered,  but 
really  to  be,  competent  referees  whenever  any  ques- 
tion arises  concerning  it.  Take,  for  instance,  one  of 
the  following  topics : — 

The  history  of  man,  or  human  nature  under  every 
variety  of  climate  or  influence,  whether  social  or 
physical :  the  savage,  the  slave,  the  freeman,  the 
heathen,  the  Christian. 

The  wonders  of  creation, — the  animals,  produce  ; 
natural  phenomena, — storms,  earthquakes,  or  erup- 
tions, in  every  part  of  the  world. 

The  arts  and  sciences, — literature,  education,  in- 
genuity, and  points  of  superiority  in  different  nations. 
Each  of  these  subjects  I  will  consider  separately, 
pointing  out  the  capacity  required  for  each,  and  such 
authors  as  will  be  found  most  improving. 

First.  As  to  the  history  ef  man.  This  subject  was 
chosen  by  Dr.  Priichard,  w"ho?e  learned  work  remark- 
ably excriiplifies  how  to  collect  and  classify  informa- 
tion. The  author  appears  lo  have  read  all  the  travels 
he  could  procure,  to  illustrate  the  modifying  influence 
of  physical  and  moral  auencies  on  the  difierent  tribes 
of  the  human  family.  From  his  work  it  appears  that, 
however  much  may  be  said  about  the  artificial  and 
unnatural  habits  that  civilization  produces,  human 
strength,  endurance,  and  longevity — to  say  nothing 
of  the  development  of  those  capacities  which  are 
deemed  the  proper  characteristics  of  man — are  greater 
amonsr  civilized  than  uncivilized  nations.  This  is  a 
fact  which  the  most  ordinary  reader  would  be  curious 
to  know  :  I  have  therefore  selected  it  from  a  volume 
of  deep  and  subtle  investigation,  to  show  with  what 
care  and  interest  we  may  illustrate  a  subject  seeming- 
ly of  deep  philosophy.  But  these  hints  ate  intended, 
not  for  the  learned,  but  the  ignorant.  Catlin's  "  Notes 
on  the  North  American  Indians,"^  with  400  illustra- 
tions, contains  a  must  curious  his'ory  of  our  brother 
man.  From  these  sources  we  learn  that  works  of 
art,  considered  impossible  under  all  the  advantages 
of  a  civilized  state,  are  every  day  produced  by  the 
simple  instruments  of  untutored  nations.  After  read- 
ing Mr.  Catlin's  travels,  and  visiting  his  collection,  I 
happened  to  take  up  Bremner's  excursion  in  Russia, 
and  shortly  afterwards  Davis's  and  Gulzlaff's  ac- 
counts of  the  Chinese,  which  induced  me  to  visit  the 
Chinese  Exhibition  in  London.     Let  any  reader  con- 


2  Catlin's   North  American    Indians,   2  vols. 
Wiley  and  Putnam. 

1)2 


42 


A   COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


eider  the  effect  which  must  bo  produced  on  the  mind 
by  the  following  observations  relating  to  three  races 
of  men  in  distant  parts  of  the  world:  First,  Mr.  Cai- 
lin  showed  an  Indian  bow  which  no  turner  in  London 
could  equal,  and  cloth  of  a  texture  which  astonished 
the  manufacturers  of  Manchester.  Secondly,  Mr. 
Bremner  stated  tliat  the  Russians,  with  no  plane  or 
line,  nor  any  other  tool  than  an  a.xe,  will  cut  with 
the  greatest  precision  and  join  even  edges.  And 
thirdly,  in  the  Chinese  Exhibition  appeared  that  varied 
collection  of  works  of  art  too  well  known  to  need  de- 
scription. Again  ;  how  must  the  mind  be  opened  and 
improved  by  comparing  the  different  habits  of  life, — 
the  food,  the  occupation,  the  character  of  these  wide- 
ly differing  and  distant  nations.  And  how  much  more 
light  will  be  thrown  upon  man's  history,  if  in  the  hfe 
of  All  Pacha  we  read  of  the  state  of  Egypt,  and  see 
how  that  prince  of  slave-dealers  carries  on,  or  at  least 
sanctions,  the  annual  negro-hunts.  One  who  has  not 
read  of  the  horrors  of  this  chase  has  yet  to  learn  how 
far  it  is  possible  for  human  nature,  left  to  the  control 
of  conscience  alone,  without  the  chastening  discipline 
of  a  Christian  community,  brutally  to  make  prey  of 
the  flesh  and  blood  of  his  fellow-man.  In  the  exter- 
mination of  the  Red  Indians  by  the  encroaches  of  the 
colonists  of  America  we  learn  more  lessons  of  the 
same  kind,  though  less  cold-blooded  and  revolting. 
Borrow's  "  Gipsies  in  Spain,"'  as  well  as  his  "Bible 
in  Spain,"  which  might  as  properly  be  entitled 
"Gipsy  Adventures,"  together  with  the  history  of 
the  "  Thugs, "2  or  Indian  Assassins,  will  all  be  valua- 
ble to  those  who  think  that  "  the  proper  study  of  man- 
kind is  man:"  nor  can  any  kind  of  reading  afford 
more  thrilling  interest. 

Secondly.  As  to  the  wonders  of  creation  and  natural 
phenomena.  This,  like  the  last,  is  a  topic  suited  to 
every  capacity, — to  the  philosopher,  who  needs  no 
assistance,  as  well  as  to  the  general  reader,  who 
would  beguile  a  winter's  evening  by  gratifying  his 
curiosity  about  the  wide  world  and  all  things  that  are 
therein.  A  little  book,  entitled  "  Physical  Geogra- 
phy,"'' contains  a  good  selection  from  the  writings 
of  travellers.  But  I  shall  mention  other  works  pre- 
sently. 

Thirdly.  The  arts,  sciences,  literature,  and  com- 
parative superiority  of  different  nations,  can  also  be 
studied  by  persons  of  various  tastes  and  capacities. 
Some  may  compare  the  works  of  art  and  manual  per- 
formance only,  and  see  how  little  the  pyramids  of 
Egypt  appear,  in  any  thing  but  their  uselessness, 
when  compared  with  our  mines  and  railways.  The 
measurement  of  some  of  the  tanks  of  India  and  the 
wall  of  China  may  be  profitably  remembered  by  re- 
ference to  our  docks,  canals,  water-works,  gas-pipes, 
and  other  machinery.  Again,  those  of  maturer  mind 
may  regard  rather  moral  and  social,  than  physical, 
grandeur;  and  that,  as  I  have  before  said,  without 
any  hints  or  direction  from  me.  My  intention  is  to 
prompt,  encourage,  and  suggest  the  first  attempts  of 
a  large  class  of  readers,  who  are  so  diffident  that  they 
will  scarcely  believe  they  can  attain  the  information 
which  most  of  their  friends  possess.  These  humble 
aspirants  should  be  told  that  many  a  naturalist  who 
has  presented  a  valuable  collection  of  fossils  or  other 
curiosities  to  a  museum,  has  attributed  ail  his  emi- 
nence to  some  accident  which  induced  him  to  make  a 
store  of  birds'  eggs  or  snail-shells  at  school:  so  many 
an  author  who  has  enlightened  the  world  on  matters 
of  the  highest  interest,  has  declared  that  he  felt  un- 
worthy of  the  honours  conferred  upon  him,  because 
he  believed  he  owed  all  his  success  to  some  chance 
suggestion,  lighter  even  than  those  now  offered,  which 
first  directed  attention  to  his  favourite  order  of  pheno- 
mena, and  because  the  theory  which  he  had  originated 
was  too  obvious  to  be  overlooked  by  any  one  who 
had  collected  the  same  class  of  facts  under  equal  ad- 


'  Borrow's  Bible  in  Spain  and  Gipsies  in  Spain, 
2  vols,  at  25  cents  each.     J.  Winchester,  New  York. 

2  History  of  the  Thugs,  2  vols.     Carey  &  Hart. 

3  Physical  Geography,  1  vol.     Carey  «  Hart. 


vantages.  Most  truly  may  it  be  said  that  men  of 
genius  will  rarely  believe  an  investigation  to  be  im- 
practicable to  others  which  is  easy  to  themselves ; 
still  it  seems  highly  probable  that  a  patient  adherence 
to  a  mere  mechanical  system  of  study  has  often  pro- 
duced results,  which,  to  those  ignorant  of  the  process, 
has  seemed  the  work,  not  of  industry,  but  of  genius. 
"  If  I  surpass  other  men,"  said  Newton,  "in  any 
thing,  it  is  in  patient  examination  of  facts." 

To  the  preceding  we  may  add  one  more  subject  of 
investigation,  and  one  which  many  will  prefer,  namely, 

Fourthly.  The  general  condition  of  every  nation 
in  respect  of  climate  and  civilization.  To  readers 
who  choose  this  topic  I  would  recommend  keeping 
either  one  large  Mercator's  chart,  or  a  separate  map 
of  each  quarter  of  the  globe,  on  which  to  mark  from 
time  to  time,  by  a  peculiar  colour  or  other  convenient 
sign,  such  countries  as  travellers'  journals  enable 
them  to  explore.  One  of  my  friends  had  a  map  of 
England,  on  which  he  had  coloured  each  road  he  had 
travelled,  every  county  of  which  he  knew  the  habits 
of  the  people  or  the  produce  and  advantages  of  the 
soil,  also  each  town  of  which  he  had  studied  the  pre- 
sent'prospects  or  past  history.  He  had  also  marked 
with  figures  many  of  the  towns,  as  being  of  the  first, 
second,  third,  or  fourth  class,  in  respect  of  population, 
having  first  determined  the  number  to  constitute  each 
class.  Such  methods  are  a  strong  incentive  both  to 
deep  research  and  methodical  study  ;  they  forbid  us 
to  forget  that  we  read,  not  to  count  volumes,  but  to 
store  up  knowledge.  The  maps  we  choose  should  be 
originally  blank  ones,  representing  terra  incognita; 
a  dark  colour  may  alsa  be  appropriate.  We  shall 
thus  be  prompted  to  study,  that  we  may  dispel  this 
cloud  which  broods  over  the  face  of  the  earth,  and 
diffuse  instead  some  hvely  hue  emblematic  of  the 
fight  of  knowledge. 

After  all  that  I  have  said  on  other  subjects  apphca- 
ble  also  to  the  study  of  travels,  these  few  hints  will 
serve  as  a  sufficient  clue  to  the  shortest,  safest,  and 
most  agreeable  road  to  the  knowledge  which  travel- 
lers can  impart.  Of  all  works  which  may  be  "  skim- 
med," travels  are  those  with  which  the  reader  may 
avail  himself  of  this  privilege  with  the  clearest  con- 
science. He  is  not  bound  to  read  more  than  one  pas- 
sage from  Dover  to  Calais,  one  ducking  at  the  Line, 
or  one  account  of  old  tricks  upon  travellers:  the  table 
of  contents  will  generally  point  out  the  parts  worth 
reading.  It  is  proverbial  that  travellers'  facts  are  not 
famed  for  accuracy,  and  are  often  partial  and  mistaken 
when  not  wilfully  exaggerated  ;  but  a  traveller's 
opinions  must  be  received  with  greater  caution  still. 
Indeed,  this  kind  of  literature  in  every  respect  re- 
quires much  discrimination  on  the  part  of  the  reader. 

Respecting  choice  of  voyages  and  travels,  I  might 
refer  the  reader  to  any  bookseller's  catalogue ;  but  in 
compliance  with  the  request  of  a  few  young  friends, 
who  assure  me  they  represent  a  great  many  more,  I 
add  the  following  list,  at  the  same  time  observing  that 
such  parts  of  a  volume  as  do  not  interest  a  reader,  he 
will  do  well  to  pass  over,  for  a  time  at  all  events. 

To  listen  when  the  speaker  speaks  against  time, 
and  to  read  where  (as  is  too  common  with  travellers) 
the  writer  writes  against  space,  are  equally  void  of 
improvement. 

First.  For  those  who  prefer  voyages  of  discovery, 
whale-fishery,  and  all  the  phenomena  and  wonders 
of  the  deep,  the  voyages  of  Cook  and  Parry  are  to  be 
preferred,  because  it  is  injudicious  to  remain  ignorant 
of  books  which  others  know. 

The  "  General  History  of  Maritime  and  Inland 
Discovery"''  has  been  written  by  W.  D.  Cooley,  in 
3  vols.  This  is  more  suited  to  the  mature  than  the 
inexperienced  reader. 

The  "Lives  of  Drake,  Cavendish,  and  Dampier, 
with  the  History  of  the  Buccaneers,"  form  one  small 
volume,  well  calculated  to  show  the  state  of  nautical 
affairs  in  early  days. 


*  Coolet's   Maritime  and   Inland   Discovert, 
3  vols.,  price  $5.    Edinburgh, 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


43 


A  *'  Narrative  of  a  voyage  round  the  World,  per- 
formed in  H.  M.  S.  Sulphur,  1836 — 42,"  gives  a  de- 
tail of  naval  operations  in  China.  This  is  a  work  of 
authority. 

"Voyages  and  Travels  round  the  World,  1821 — 
29,"  by  deputies  of  the  Missionary  Society. 

A  "Narrative  of  a  Ten  Years'  Voyage  of  Discovery 
round  the  WorldofH.  M.S.  Adventure  and  Beagle," 
with  maps  and  illustrations. 

The  "  Travels  and  Researches  of  Humboldt,"  be- 
ing a  condensed  narrative  of  his  journey  in  America 
and  Asiatic  Russia ;  a  work  greatly  to  be  recom- 
mended ;  few  travellers  are  quoted  with  more  respect 
than  Humboldt. 

"  Narrative  of  a  Whaling  Voyage  round  the  Globe, 
1833 — 36,"  containing  an  account  of  whaling,  and  the 
Natural  History  of  the  countries  visited. 

"An  Historical  and  Descriptive  Account  of  Ice- 
land, Greenland,  and  the  Faroe  Islands,"  one  small 
volume. 

All  which  works  are  considered  of  good  authority, 
and  give  much  information  in  a  pleasing  way. 

"  Basil  Hall's  Fragments  of  Voyages  and  Travels" 
have  been  already  recommended,  as  equal  to  any 
wrhings  of  the  kind.  "Two  Years  before  the 
Mast"'  must  also  be  noticed. 

With  the  foregoing  list  any  young  person,  however 
unused  to  reading,  may  employ  many  a  rainy  morning, 
and  probably  gain  a  zest  for  subjects  of  another  kind. 

Secondly.  As  to  manners,  customs,  and  the  gene- 
ral state  of  different  nations.  These  form  more  or 
less  the  subject  of  all  travels,  but  more  particularly 

"  Catlin's  Letters  and  Notes  on  the  Manners, 
Customs,  &c.  of  the  North  American  Indians," 
above  mentioned. 

"Travels  in  North  America,  and  a  Residence 
among  the  Pawnee  Indians,"  by  the  Hon.  C.  A. 
Murray. 

"  Life  in  Mexico, "^  forming  vol.  ii.  of  the  Foreign 
Library. 

"  Visit  to  the  Indians  of  ChiU,"  by  Capt.  Gardiner. 

' '  General  D escription  of  C hina  and  its  Inhabitants, ' ' 
by  Davis. 

"  China  Opened,"  by  the  Rev.  C.  GutzlafT. 

"Narrative  of  a  recent  Imprisonment  in  China, 
after  the  wreck  of  the  Kite." 

"Ten  thousand  Things  relating  to  China  and  the 
Chinese,"  by  W.  B.  Langdon,  Esq.,  curator  of  the 
Chinese  Collection ;  which  forms  an  epitome  of  go- 
vernment, literature,  trade, social  life, (fee.  of  the  people. 

"Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Japanese  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century." 

"  The  Rural  and  Domestic  Life  of  Germany, "^  by 
W.  Howut. 

"Borrow's  Bible  in  Spain,"  and  "Gipsies  in 
Spain,"  above  mentioned. 

Which  are  works  of  very  great  interest,  perfectly 
original  both  in  style  and  matter. 

"  Histor>[  and  present  Condhion  of  the  Barbary 
States,"  with  a  view  of  their  antiquities,  arts,  &c., 
by  the  Right  Rev.  M.  Russell. 

"  Nubia  and  Abyssinia,"''  by  the  same  author. 

"  Russia  and  the  Russians  in  1842, "5  by  Kohl. 

"  Excursions  in  the  Interior  of  Russia,"  by  Brem- 
ner ;  with  an  account  of  Nicholas  and  his  Court,  and 
exile  in  Siberia. 

"  Journal  of  a  Residence  in  Norway,  in  1834 — 5 — 
6,"  by  Samuel  Laing. 

All  these  works  are  of  indisputable  value,  and  con- 
tain much  to  interest  both  and  old  young. 


•  Dana's  Two  Yeaks  before  the  Mast,  50  cts. 
Harpers'  Family  Library. 

2  Life  in  Mexico,  by  Madame  Calderon  de  la 
Barca,  2  vols.    Little  &  Brown. 

^  Rural  and  Domestic  Life  of  Germany,  by 
Wm.  Howitt,  2  vols.,  price  50  cts.     Carey  &  Hart. 

^  Russell's  History  of  the  Barbary  States, 
and  Nubia  and  Abyssinia,  3  vols.    Edinburgh. 

*  Russia  and  the  Russians,  Scotland,  Austria, 
AND  Ireland,  by  J.  G.  Kohl  all  in  1  vol.,  price  $1.25. 
Carey  &  Hart. 


Thirdly.  For  readers  of  mature  mind,  who  can 
enter  into  historical  disquisitions  and  historical  reflec- 
tions : — 

"Notes  (Moral,  Religious,  Political,  Economical, 
Educational,  and  Phrenological,)  on  the  United  States 
of  America."**  Of  this  it  is  enough  to  say,  that  it  is 
written  by  George  Combe. 

"  The  Discovery  of  America  by  the  Northmen  in 
the  Tenth  Century,"^  by  J.  T.  Siniih. 

Buckingham's  "America."  'I'hc  second  series 
describes  the  slave  states. 

Miss  Martineau's  "America."^  A  book  of  very 
great  observation  and  reflection. 

Sir  F.  B,  Head's  "  Rough  Notes;"  the  "  Pampas 
and  the  Andes." 

Bishop  Heber's  "  Journal  ;"3  very  elegantly  writ- 
ten and  generally  admired ;  though  few  readers  re- 
ceive from  it  very  lasting  impressions. 

"Travels  in  the  West.  Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  the 
Slave  Trade." 

"British  India,'"  from  the  most  remote  Period. — 
Early  Portuguese  and  English  Voyages ;  Revolu- 
tions of  the  i\Iogul  Empire  ;  Accounts  of  Hindoo 
Astronomy;  Navigation  of  great  Rivers  by  Steam, 
&.C.,"  by  Jameson,  Wilson,  Dalrymple,  Murray,  and 
others  eminent  for  science. 

"  Historical  and  descriptive  account  of  Persia,"  Go- 
vernment Resources,  Natural  History,  Wandering 
Tribes,"  by  J.  Bailhe  Fraser. 

"  Notes  of  a  Traveller  on  the  Social  and  Political 
State  of  France,  Prussia,  Switzerland,  Italy  and  other 
parts  of  Europe,  during  the  present  Century,"  by  S. 
Laing. 

"  Greece  as  a  Kingdom  :  Laws,  Commerce,  Army, 
Navy,  (Sec,  from  the  arrival  of  Otho,  1833,  to  the 
present  time,"  by  J.  Strong. 

"  Tour  to  the  Sepulchres  of  Ancient  Etruria,  in 
1839,"  by  Mrs.  Hamihon  Gray. 

"Mediterranean  Sketches,"  by  Lord  F.  Egerton. 

"  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  Madeira." 

"  Teneriffe,  with  a  Visit  to  Algiers,  Egypt,  Pa- 
lestine, Tyre,  Rhodes,  Telraessus,  Cyprus,  and 
Greece,"  by  W.  R.  Wylde. 

"  Russia  under  Nicholas  I."  from  the  German. 

"Narrative  of  Discovery  and  Adventure  in  Africa, '- 
from  the  earliest  Ages  to  the  present  Time,"  by 
Murray,  Jameson,  and  Wilson.  The  same  authors 
have  written  similar  w^orks  on  discovery  in  the  Polar 
Seas  ;  also  on  the  more  northern  coasts  of  America. 

"  Forest  Scenes  and  Incidents  in  the  Wilds  of  Ca- 
nada," by  SirF.  B.  Head. 

Waterton's  "Wanderings  in  the  N.  W.  of  the 
United  States.  Catching  rare  Snakes  and  Birds; 
Natural  History. "'' 

Fourlhly.  For  those  curious  about  ancient  cities, 
ruins,  and  remains  of  by-gone  days  : — 

"Incidents  of  Travel  in  Central  America,  Chia- 
pas, and  Yucatan,"''*  by  J.  Stephens,  with  numerous 
engravings. 

"A  Second  Visit  to  the  ruined  Cities  of  Central 
America, "'5  by  the  same  author. 

"  Rambles  in  Yutacan  ;  or  Notes  of  Travel  through 


*  Combe's  Notes  on  America,  2  vols.  Carey  & 
Hart. 

■^  Discovery  of  America  by  the  Northmen  in  the 
10th  Century,  1  vol.     Boston. 

8  Miss  Martineau's  Amekiqa,  2  vols.  Harper  & 
Brothers,  New  York. 

3  Heber's  Journal,  2  vols.     Carey,  Lea  &  Carey. 

'0  British  India,  by  Jameson,  Wilson,  &c.  Edin- 
burgh. 

"  Historical  and  Descriptive  Account  of  Per- 
sia.    Edinburgh. 

'2  Narrative  of  Discovery  and  Adventure  in 
Africa.     Edinburgh. 

13  Waterton's  Wanderings  in  America,  1  vol. 
Carey  &.  Hart. 

'''  Stephen's  Central  America,  2  vols.  Harper 
&  Brothers. 

'5  Stephen's  Yucatan,  &c.  2  vols.  Harper  & 
Brothers    N^ew  York. 


44 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


the  Peninsula,  including  a  Visit  to  the  remarkable 
Ruins  of  Chi-chen,  Kabah,  Zayi,  and  Uxmal,"  by  B. 
M.  Norman.' 

Laborde's  "  Arabia  Petraea,  and  the  excavated  Cily 
of  Petra:"  very  interesting  and  curious. 

"  Narrative  of  a  Journey  to  the  Site  of  Babylon  in 
1811.  Memoir  on  the  Ruins,  with  engravings — Re- 
marks by  Major  Rennell — Inscriptions  copied  at  Per- 
sepolis,"  by  Claudius  James  Rich,  Esq.  Also  of  a 
"  Residence  on  the  Site  of  Ancient  Nineveh,"  by  the 
same  author.     "  Sheraz  and  Persepolis," 

"Excursion  in  Asia  Minor;  including  a  Visit  to 
several  unknown  and  undiscovered  Cities,"  by  C. 
Fellows. 

"  Xanthian  Marbles  ;  their  Acquisition  and  Trans- 
mission to  England,"  by  the  same. 

"  Cairo,  Petroea,  and  Damascus,"  described  by  J. 
G.  Kinnear. 

"  Sepulchres  of  Ancient  Etruria,"  above  mentioned. 

"Topography  of  Thebes,  and  General  View  of 
Egypt." 

"  Eboracum  ;  or  York  under  the  Romans,"  by  Sir 
G.  Wilkinson. 

"  Pompeii ;  an  Account  of  its  Destruction  and  Re- 
mains." 

"  Egyptian  Antiquities,"  by  Professor  Long. 

"Ruins  of  Ancient  Cities,"  by  Charles  Bucke.^ 

Fifthly.  For  the  readers  of  the  classical  and  Biblical 
literature  : — 

Sir  A.  Buvnes'  "  Travels  to  Bokhara  and  up  the 
Indus"  may  be  read  in  connection  with  the  life  of 
Alexander  the  Great. 

Cramer's  Asia  Minor,  Ancient  Italy,  and  Greece, 
are  chiefly  valuable  to  the  more  accurate  students  of 
the  classics. 

"Biblical  Researches  in  Palestine,  Mount  Sinai, 

■  and  Arabia  Peirasa,  in  1838, "'  by  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson. 

Wilson's  "Travels  in  the  Holy  Land,  Egypt, 
&c." 

"  Letters  on  the  Holy  Land,"  by  Lord  Lindsay. 
Slake's  "  Northern  Greece;"  also,  "Topography 
of  Athens  and  the  Demi." 

"A  Winter  Journey  through  Russia,    Caucas\is, 
and  Georgia,  thence  across  Mount  Zagross,  by  thf 
Pass  of  Xenophon,  and  the  Ten  Thousand  Greeks," 
.     by  Migdan. 

Wordsworth's  "  Athens  ;"  also  "  Ancient  Greece," 
and  Eustace's  "  Classical  Tour,"  above  recom- 
mended. 

Sixlldy.  For  tourists  in  Great  Britain  or  on  the  Con- 
tinent : — 

A  full  and  impartial  catalogue  of  all  the  most  ap- 
proved works  in  every  department  of  English  litera- 
,     ture  is  published  annually  by  Messrs.  Longman,  con- 
;.    taining,  under  the  head  of  "  Guides  and  Hand-books," 
I    a  list  of  works  for  travellers  visiting  every  part  of 
England  or  of  the  Continent.     In  this  catalogue  the 
*    tourist  will  find  pictures,  hand-books,  guides,  and  tra- 
velling directions  of  all  kinds.     But  since  Dr.  Johnson 
'     wisely  said  that  no  traveller  will  bring  knowledge 
,.    home  who  does  not  take  knowledge  out  with  him,  1 
i     would  strongly  recommend  every  tourist  to  inform 
)    himself  of  the  government,   constitution,  resources, 
and  general  nature  of  the  town,  county,  or  country  he 
intends  to  visit.     The  traveller  should  know  what  to 
.    look  or  inquire  for,  and  should  read  sufficiently  to  un- 
derstand common  allusions  to  such  events  of  the  day, 
i    as  every  one  with  whom  he  converses  will  presume  to 
r     be  too  familiar  to  need  explanation.     For  this  purpose, 
'-    besides  books  which  have  been  or  will  be  elsewhere 
■'    mentioned,  I  would  specify  for  the   Continental  tra- 
'     veller — 

:„  .  '  Norman's  Rambles  i^  Ytjcatan.    1  vol.    H.  G. 

%  Langley,  New  York. 

I'  2  Bucke's  Ruins  of  Ancient  Cities.     Harper  & 

:;;  Brothers,  New  York. 

■  "  Robinson  and  Smith's  Biblical  Researches  in 
'  Palestine.     3  vols.     Crocker  &  Brewster,  Boston. 

Travels  in  the  Holy  Land.     By  E.  Joy  Morris. 
,;   2  vols.  $1.50.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 


Turnbull's  "Travels  in  Austria,"  in  which  we 
read  of  the  social  and  political  condition  of  that  countty. 

Mrs.  Trollope's  "  Visit  to  Italy." 

Forsyth's  "  Remarks  on  Antiquities,  Arts,  and 
Letters,"  during  an  excursion  to  Italy,  in  1802  and 
1803. 

"What  to  observe;  or,  the  Traveller's  Remem- 
brancer," by  J.  R.  Jackson,  Secretary  to  the  Geo- 
graphical Society. 

"  Belgium,"  by  J.  Emerson  Tennent. 

Hugh  Murray's  "Encyclopaedia  of  Geography."* 
By  help  of  this  we  may  gain  a  knowledge  of  every 
country  and  town,  with  references  to  other  sources  of 
information. 

Hand-books  to  every  part  of  the  Continent  have 
been  pul)lished  by  Mr.  Murray.  In  short,  the  literary 
demands  of  Travellers  have  been  so  well  supphed, 
that,  by  communicating  with  an  intelligent  bookseller, 
we  may  often  be  furnished  with  works  which  would 
almost  seem  to  have  been  written  for  our  peculiar  in- 
formation. 

Having  largely  provided  for  those  who  are  happy 
enough  to  be  able  to  travel,  it  is  only  fair  to  add  a  list 
of  illustrated  works,  specially  for  the  amusement  of 
home-hound  readers. — In  conveying  ideas  of  scenery 
and  architectural  curiosities,  the  pen  must  give  place 
to  the  pencil.  No  description  can  place  the  same 
view  of  a  fine  landscape  before  the  minds  of  any  two 
persons,  nor,  indeed,  fix  a  correct  impression  on  the 
mind  of  one.  Would  that  all  travellers  were  able  to 
publish  in  the  style  of  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Greece! 
Indeed,  the  daily  increase  of  such  works  as  the  Pic- 
torial "Times  and  Illustrated  London  News,  gives 
reason  to  hope  that  in  a  few  years  publishers  will  be 
obliged  to  employ  almost  as  many  Artists  as  Authors. 
The  maxim  Nil  sine  labors,  that  is  to  say,  all  is 
"  bubble,  bubble,"  without  "  toil  and  trouble,"  though 
generally  so  true  in  literary  pursuits,  should  be  some- 
what qualified  by  what  Horace  says — 

"  Segnuis  irritant  animum  demissa  per  aurem 
ftuim  quae  sunt  oculis  subjecta  tidelibua  :" 

in  other  words,  seeing  makes  a  much  more  lively 
impression  than  hearing  ;  and  pictures  are  a  better 
vehicle  of  some  kinds  of  information  than  letter-press  ; 
therefore. 

"  The  Moselle,  the  Rhine,  and  the  Meuse"  maybe 
contemplated  by  the  help  of  thirty  drawings  on  stone, 
from  Stanfield's  sketches. 

"  The  Rhine,  Italy,  and  Greece"  forms  another 
series,  with  descriptions  by  the  Rev.  G.  N,  Wright. 

"Italy,  France,  and  Switzerland"  have  been  illus- 
trated with  135  engravings  by  T.  Roscoe. 

"  Sketches  of  France,  Italy,  and  Switzerland,"  by 
Prout :  and 

"  Richardson's  Sketches  on  the  Continent,"  com- 
prising France,  Switzerland,  Italy,  Germany,  Hol- 
land, &c. 

"  Switzerland,"  consisting  of  twenty-seven  subjects 
by  Barnard.  The  attempt  of  this  author  has  been  to 
give  all  the  finest  views  which  travellers  delight  in  re- 
calling. 

"  The  Shores  and  Islands  of  the  Mediterranean," 
by  the  Rev.  G.  N.  Wright,  with  sixty-five  engravings. 

"  The  Turkish  Empire  illustrated."  Constanti- 
nople and  the  Seven  Churches  of  Asia  Minor,  with 
ninety-five  engravings. 

"  Syria  and  the  Holy  Land,"  by  John  Came,  with 
120  engravings. 

"  Rome  and  its  surrounding  Scenery,"  by  W.  B. 
Cooke. 

"  Rome  and  its  Environs,  in  a  Series  of  Twenty- 
five  Views." 

Robert's  "  Picturesque  Sketches  in  Spain." 

OHver's  "  French  Pyrenees,"  in  twenty-six  plates. 

Lewis's  "  Spanish  Sketches  of  the  Alhambra." 

*  Mitrray's  Encyclopedia  of  Geography.  3  vols. 
8vo.     Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

McCulloch's  Gazetteer.  2  large  8vo  vols. 
Harper  &  Brothers   New  York. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING, 


45 


"A  Series  of  Sketches  in  Turkey,  Syria,  and 
Egypt,"  by  Sir  David  Wiikie. 

"Views  of  Palestine,  Syria,  Egypt,  and  Arabia," 
by  David  Roberts. 

Hay's  "Illustrations  of  Cairo." 

"  Sketches  on  the  Danube,"  by  G.  Hering. 

"  Sketches  of  China  and  the  Chinese,"  by  A. 
Borget. 

"views  in  India,  China,  and  the  Shores  of  the  Red 
Sea."     Drawn  by  Prout,  Stanfield,  and  others. 

"  China,  in  a  Series  of  Views,"  in  monthly  parts  ; 
very  copious,  accurate,  and  beautifully  executed. 

"Himalaya  Mountains,"  illustrated  by  Turner, 
Stanfield,  and  others. 

"British  Forces  in  Affghanistan,"  by  Dr.  James 
Atkinson,  Surgeon  of  the  Army  on  the  Indus. 

"  American  Scenery,"  by  W.  H.  Bartlett. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  above  works  I  have  had 
the  pleasure  of  looking  over.  With  many  I  have 
had  the  advantage  of  taking  the  opinion  of  friends 
familiar  with  the  subjects  of  the  respective  sketches, 
and  can  strongly  recommend  young  persons  to  avail 
themselves  of  all  the  illustrated  works  they  can  pro- 
cure, as  the  most  fertile  source  not  only  of  rational 
amusement  but  of  serious  instruction.  With  the  pro- 
ductions of  the  pencil,  as  with  those  of  the  pen,  me- 
thodical application  and  careful  comparison  of  things 
of  the  same  class  are  essential  to  real  improvement. 
By  carelessly  turning  over  prints  to  please  the  eye, 
without  any  effort  of  the  mind,  we  cannot  reasonably 
hope  to  receive  distinct  or  lasting  impressions.  Views 
of  foreign  lands  and  famous  cities  will  serve  to  fill  up 
many  a  blank  in  an  inquiring  mind,  but,  as  I  before 
said  of  the  qualifications  of  a  traveller,  we  must  have 
a  little  knowledge  when  we  begin,  if  we  would  retain 
any  when  we  end. 

"Nil  sme  labore"  is  true  even  of  looking  at  pic- 
tures. Unless  we  read  and  reflect  on  ihe  scenes  we 
contemplate,  and  are  contented  to  look  only  at  a  few 
at  one  time,  we  shall  soon  perceive  that  we  have  be- 
come more  confused  than  informed,  and  parts  of  Italy, 
Spain,  and  Turkey  will  insensibly  blend  in  the  same 
picture. 

PHILOSOPHY,  MORAL,  POLITICAL,  MEN- 
TAL—LOGIC—METAPHYSICS. 

Philosophy,  my  young  friends,  may  seem  to  you 
a  very  hard  term,  and  you  may  feel  disposed  to  pass 
by  this  chapter  as  wholly  unsuited  to  your  taste  or 
talents ;  but  if  you  will  pay  attention  for  a  few  mi- 
nutes, it  may  appear  that  to  think  and  reflect,  not  only 
on  what  you  see,  but  on  what  you  feel  and  are  con- 
scious of  as  part  of  your  own  nature — in  other  words, 
to  think  about  your  own  thoughts  and  emotions,  (just 
83  you  think  about  your  words  and  actions,)  and  to 
examine  curiously  any  thing  which  seems  remarkable 
in  such  thoughts  and  emotions  or  feelings, — you  may 
find,  I  say,  that  this  kind  of  exercise  is  not  too  severe 
for  your  mind  when  you  read,  as  you  should  read,  a 
little  at  a  time.  And  should  you  be  induced  to  try, 
believe  me,  the  course  of  reading  I  have  to  propose, 
or  indeed  any  one  volume  or  subject,  can  hardly  fail 
to  produce  a  very  sensible  effect  upon  your  mind. 
For,  let  me  ask,  do  you  not  remember  some  one  of 
■your  acquaintance  who  is  remarkable  for  giving  a 
very  favourable  impression  of  his  good  sense  and  un- 
derstanding to  any  person  with  whom  he  happens  to 
converse,  although  only  for  a  few  minutes,  and  that 
too  upon  some  topic  that  gives  scope  neither  for  ge- 
neral reading  nor  deep  learning  ? 

Now  this  mysterious  influence,  this  weight  of  cha- 
racter, depends  (as  far  as  mind  is  concerned)  chiefly 
on  the  exact  truth  of  our  thoughts  and  of  our  words. 
"The  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the 
truth,"  should  be  the  rule,  not  only  of  our  legal  evi- 
dence, but  of  the  most  casual  of  our  daily  remarks ; 
and  I  believe  that  the  degree  of  a  man's  conformity 
to  this  rule  is  the  measure,  mentally  as  well  as  mo- 
rally, of  his  influence  upon  society. 

Indeed,  the  world  often  pays  homage  to  this  truth- 


fulness of  thought  and  expression  without  knowing 
what  they  reverence.  A  certain  plain  and  simple 
way  of  speaking,  so  generally  admired,  is  nothing 
else  but  the  language  natural  to  those,  and  those 
only,  who  discern  the  exact  truth  of  every  question, — 
mean  what  they  say,  and  say  what  they  mean.  Rug- 
ged sentences  of  outlandish  words  of  many  syllables, 
flowers  and  figures  of  speech,  never  please,  though 
many  think  it  creditable  to  admire  them.  This  style 
is  the  reverse  of  the  simple  and  the  truthful,  and  is 
only  natural  to  one  who  is  more  full  of  himself  than 
of  his  subject. 

To  seek  truth  for  truth's  sake  has  therefore  been 
the  laudable  object  of  those  called  philosophers,  or 
lovers  of  wisdom,  both  in  ancient  and  modern  times. 
And  if  my  youthful  readers  will  follow  the  course  of 
reading  I  have  to  propose,  they  can  hardly  fail  to  im- 
prove both  in  their  own  estimation  and  in  that  of  their 
friends.  To  paint  the  surface  of  the  human  figure 
we  must  know  anatomy,  otherwise  there  will  be  a 
want  of  ease  and  true  expression.  So,  also,  to  speak 
correctly  on  our  thoughts  and  feelings,  which  directly 
or  indirectly  enter  into  almost  every  conversation,  we 
must  know  the  real  nature  of  our  feelings,  or.  Mora) 
Philosophy,  and  the  laws  of  thought,  or,  Mental 
Philosophy. 

On  Moral  Philosophy  the  most  easy,  plain,  and 
intelligible  work  is  that  by  Paley,'  which  for  vigour, 
freshness,  ease,  and  perspicuity  of  style,  as  well  as  for 
aptness  of  illustration,  is  unrivalled  ;  but  many  of  its 
principles  and  definitions  savour  so  much  of  casuistry 
that  it  is  generally  believed  that  Paley  would  have 
been  incapable  of  writing  so  loosely  at  a  later  period 
of  his  hfe.  This,  indeed,  is  the  remark  of  Professor 
Sedgewick,  whose  admirable  lectures  I  should  strong- 
ly recommend  to  be  read  in  connection  with  Paley's 
"Moral  Philosophy." 

The  moral  essays  of  Johnson's  "  Rambler"^  and 
Addison's  "  Spectator"'  should  next  be  selected ;  and 
then  such  of  Bacon's  Essays  as  appear  from  their 
title  to  relate  to  this  subject. 

Next,  Combe's  "  Moral  Philosophy,"  in  which  is 
considered  the  duties  of  man  in  his  individual,  social, 
and  domestic  capacities. 

Chalmers's  "Bridgewater  Treatise"^  contains  most 
ingenious  illustrations,  and  is  on  the  whole  well  cal- 
culated to  give  information  in  an  amusing  way.  The 
style  unfortunately  is  turgid,  and  contains  many  words 
"not  found  in  Johnson."  Chalmers's  object  was  to 
prove  how  admirably  our  hearts  and  minds  are  suited 
to  the  sphere  in  which  we  live.  So  far  I  have  only 
mentioned  works  nearly  the  whole  of  which  a 
reader  of  ordinary  intelligence  and  application  might 
study. 

I  do  not  presume  that  many  will  read  all  the  vo- 
lumes here  recommended.  Each  may  make  choice 
of  the  chapters  which  are  simple  and  entertaining 
enough  to  rivet  his  attention. 

The  following  list  is  for  those  who  have  a  more 
decided  preference  for  philosophical  works  : — 

Mackintosh's  "Dissertations  on  the  Study  of  Ethi- 
cal Philosophy. "5  This  is  an  admirable  comprehen- 
sive work,  well  suited  as  a  guide  to  subsequent  read- 
ing.    For  the  same  purpose  some  recommend 

Hampden's  "Lectures  on  the  Study  of  Moral  Phi- 
losophy." These  two  works  lay  down  the  road  and 
the  sources  of  information  on  moral  science.  Sir 
James's  work  is  universally  admired. 

Tenneman's  "  Manual  of  the  History  of  Philoso- 
phy," and 


'  Paley's  Works,  1  vol.  8vo.  J.  Woodward, 
Philadelphia. 

2  Johnson's  Works,  2  vols.  8vo.  A.  V.  Blake, 
New  York. 

'  Addison's  Works,  3  vols.    Harper  &  Brothers. 

^  Chalmers's  Bridgewater  Treatise.  The 
Bridgewater  Treatises,  complete  in  7  large  8vo  voU., 
published  by  Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

5  Mackintosh's  Ethical  Philosophy,  1  vol.  Svo. 
Lea  &  Blanchard. 


46 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


Ritter's  "History  of  Ancient  Philosophy,"  are 
much  read  at  Oxford. 

A  German  gentleman  of  considerable  reading  as- 
sured me  that  the  views  of  Tenneman  were  strangely 
misrepresented  in  the  English  translation. 

Beattie's  "  Principles  of  Moral  Science"'  have  at- 
tained much  celebrity,  but  less  than 

"  The  Philosophy  of  the  Moral  FeehDgs,"^  by 
Abercrombie.  Those,  however,  who  would  go  to 
the  fountain,  should  read 

"Bishop  Butler's  Sermons:"  this  work  is  much 
read  at  Oxford,  and  forms  a  subject  of  examination 
for  the  highest  honours.  Dr.  Chalmers  and  Sir  James 
Mackintosh  are  both  reputed  to  have  said  that  nearly 
all  they  knew  of  moral  philosophy  they  owed  to  But- 
ler. The  late  Dr.  Arnold  also  recommended  it  as 
one  of  the  few  works  which  we  should  never  cease 
reading.  An  observation  of  this  kmd  induced  me, 
about  ten  years  since,  to  study  Butler  till  I  was  fami- 
liar with  every  page ;  and  I  can  truly  say,  that  the 
greater  part  of  every  book  on  moral  philosophy  which 
has  fallen  in  my  way  appeared  as  trite  as  a  thrice-told 
tale,  and  a  mere  development  of  Butler's  thoughts 
and  paraphrase  of  his  words.  The  reasoning  of  But- 
ler, I  must  confess,  is  too  abstruse  for  the  minds  of 
many.  But,  in  the  present  day,  few  persons,  really 
desirous  of  improvement,  can  be  at  a  loss  for  occa- 
sional assistance  from  men  of  sound  education.  I 
knew  an  instance  of  a  young  lady  who  read  the  ser- 
mons with  her  brother,  that  she  might  receive  an  ex- 
planation of  every  difficulty.  Mrs.  Somerville^  truly 
remarks,  as  an  encouragement  of  her  country-women 
to  study  science,  that  the  degree  of  inteUigence  re- 
quired to  follow  a  theory  is  not  to  be  measured  by 
the  genius  originally  required  for  its  discovery :  so, 
dissertations  most  perplexing  of  themselves  may  be 
very  easy  when  we  have  a  friend  to  put  one  argument 
in  a  different  form,  and  another  in  different  words. 
If  any  of  my  readers  has  a  fi-iend  to  take  so  kind 
a  part,  let  them  remember,  that  many  persons  of 
sound  judgment  have  declared,  that  if  there  were  one 
book  of  human  composition  which  they  felt  more 
thankful  to  have  read  than  another,  it  was  Butler's 
Sermons.  Such  are  the  merits  of  this  work  in  re- 
spect of  moral  science  :  its  value  will  still  further  be 
explained  when  we  speak  of  Theology.  After 
Butler,  or  instead  of  it,  many  recommend  Sewall's 
"  Christian  Morals."'' 

Abercrombie's  "  Philosophy  of  the  Moral  Feel- 
ings" is  a  work  of  deserved  celebrity.  It  is  written  in 
a  clear  and  elegant  style  ;  brief,  yet  comprehensive, 
and  suited  to  those  who  have  only  leisure  to  read  a 
httle. 

Beattie's  "Elements  of  Moral  Science,"  and 
Long's  "  Essay  on  the  Moral  Nature  of  Man,"  are 
also  much  recommended.  The  former  has  passed 
through  three  editions. 

John  Foster's  "  Essays  on  Decision  of  Character"^ 
are  admirable,  and  of  the  greatest  interest  to  the  class 
of  readers  now  addressed  ;  as  also  is 

Taylor's  "  Natural  History  of  Society"^  in  a  bar- 
barous and  civilized  state ;  in  which  are  considered 
the  origin  and  progress  of  human  improvement. 

Dr.  Hampden's  Article  in  the  Encyclopaedia  Bri- 
tannica  on  Aristotle's  Philosophy  will  convey  much 
well-digested  information  on  ancient  ethics.  This, 
as  well  as  Harris's  Treatises  on  "Art"  and  "  Hap- 
•piness,"  is  very  generally  read  by  Oxford  classmen. 
To  those  who  study  Aristotle's  Ethics,  I  speak  ad- 
visedly, with  much  experience,  and  on  high  authority. 


'  Beattie's  Moral  Science,  1  vol.     Philadelphia. 

2  Philosophy  of  Moral  Feelings,  by  Abercrom- 
bie.   Harper  &  Brothers. 

3  Mrs.  Somerville's  Physical  Sciences,  1  vol. 
E.  C.  Biddle. 

4  Sewall's  Christian  Morals,  1  vol.    Herman 
Hooker. 

5  Foster's  Essays,  1  vol.  12mo.    Appleton  &  Co. 

6  Taylor's  Natural  History  of  Society,  2  vols, 
12mo.    Appleton  &  Co. 


when  I  say,  that  if  they  would  select  from  the  books 
here  recommended  all  the  chapters  which  treat  on  the 
same  subjects  as  the  several  books  of  the  Ethics,  and 
if  they  would  also  accustom  themselves  to  write  Ethi- 
cal Essays, — really  Ethical,  not  Aristotelian, — they 
would  have  a  better  chance  of  University  distinction, 
and,  which  is  of  far  more  value,  they  would  have  the 
benefit  of  that  mental  exercise  and  those  hterary 
qualifications  which  Oxford  honours  should,  but  do 
not  always,  imply. 

We  will  next  consider  the  study  of 

Political  Philosophy. — Our  duties  as  citizens 
form  one  part  of  Paley's  "  Moral  and  Political  Phi- 
losophy" above  mentioned.  Bishop  Butler's  Sermon 
before  the  House  of  Lords  on  the  30th  of  January, 
1740,  contains  very  wholesome  instruction,  as  also 
does  Burke's  "French  Revolution,"  albeit  Fox  said 
he  disUked  it  as  much  as  any  writing  by  Tom  Paine. 

On  political  economy,  the  most  easy  and  instruct- 
ive reading  for  young  persons  is  found  in  the  Tales  by 
Miss  Martineau.  I  knew  a  young  lady  who  read  the 
whole  series  with  the  greatest  avidity,  although  she 
was  not  generally  fond  of  study.  The  object  of  this 
authoress  was  to  select  the  leading  principles  of  Adam 
Smith's  "  Wealth  of  Nations,"'  and  show  their  opera- 
tion in  a  village  or  other  community,  pleasantly  and 
ingeniously  represented,  so  as  to  show  cause  and  effect, 
or  the  beginning  and  end  of  each  impolitic  system. 

For  men  of  reflection,  Adam  Smith's  work  must 
be  the  grammar  and  groundwork  of  political  econo- 
my. Miss  Martineau  has,  like  all  other  persons, 
male  and  female,  who  have  the  boldness  to  "go 
ahead,"  been  ridiculed ;  but  few  persons  are  at  once 
so  deep  and  clear  that  they  need  disdain  her  assist- 
ance.    Read  also 

"  The  Economy  of  Machinery  and  Manufactures, "8 
by  C.  Babbage ; 

"  The  Cotton  Manufacture  of  Great  Britain,"^  by 
A.  Ure ; 

"  The  Corn  Laws,  as  affecting  all  Classes  of  the 
Community,"  by  James  Wilson; 

"  Essay  on  the  External  Corn  'Trade,"  by  Torrens. 

A  work  on  the  same  subject,  by  P.  Thompson,  as 
well  as  "Essays  on  Free  Trade  and  Protection,"  in 
the  Edinburgh  and  Quarterly,  will  show  all  that  can 
be  said  on  these  engrossing  subjects. 

On  "  Colonization  and  the  Colonies,"  read  lectures 
by  Herman  Merivale  ;  also, 

"  Colonization,  particularly  in  S.  Austraha,"  by 
Sir  C.  Napier;  and 

Cornewall  Lewis's  "Essay  on  the  Government  of 
Dependencies." 

On  "  Banks  and  Bankers,"  read  a  work,  with  re- 
view of  failures,  &c.,  by  D.  Hardcastle,  jun,,  and 

The  works  of  J.  W.  Gilbart,  General  Manager  of 
the  London  and  Westminster  Bank,  consisting  of 

"  The  History  and  Principles  of  Banking," 

"  The  History  of  Banking  in  America," 

"  A  Practical  Treatise  on  Banking,"  and 

"  The  History  of  Banking  in  Ireland,  and  the  Phi- 
losophy of  Joint  Stock  Banking,  by  G.  M.  Bell. 

"  The  Currency  Question,  an  Examination  of  Evi- 
dence in  Committee  in  1840,"  and 

"  Country  Banks  and  the  Currency,  from  Evidence 
in  Committee  in  1841,"  by  the  same. 

Read  also  the  Life  of  Horner,  in  Brougham's 
"  Statesmen,"  and  Papers  in  the  Edinburgh  Review 
therein  recommended,  written  in  1802-3-4. 

On  "  Population,"  read  Malthus,  and  the  Reviews 
upon  his  Essay ;  also, 

"  Political  Economy,"  by  the  same  ; 

"  Whateley's  Introductory  Lectures;" 

"  M'CuUoch's  Principles ;" 

Jones's  "  Essay  on  the  Distribution  of  Wealth;" 


'Smith's  "Wealth  of  Nations,"    1vol.  8vo, 
London,  Tegg. 

8  The  Economy  of  Machinery,  1  vol.     Lea  & 
Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

9  Cotton  Manufacture  of  Great  Britain,  2  vols. 
London, 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH   READING. 


47 


Ramsay's  work  on  the  same  subject,  with 

"  Principles  of  Population,"  by  A.  Alison,  are  the 
principal  remaining  works  of  note  ;  Mr.  Ricardo's 
work  was  much  quoted  some  years  since. 

The  Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge 
has  published  "  Political  Philosophy,  comprehending 
Principles  of  Government,  Monarchical  Government, 
Eastern  Monarchies,  and  European  Monarchies."' 

The  rise,  progress,  and  practical  influence  of  politi- 
cal theories,  and  the  rise  and  growth  of  the  conti- 
nental interests  of  Great  Britain,  form  the  subject  of 
a  very  popular  work  by  Heeren,  professor  of  history 
at  Gottingen. 

Lord  Brougham,  during  this  last  month,  has  pub- 
lished his  opinions  on  political  economy. 

Besides,  or  instead  of  any  or  all  of  these,  the  arti- 
cles on  taxation,  rent,  or  any  other  part  of  political 
economy,  may  be  studied  in  the  Cyclopaedias.  I  have 
only  to  add,  that  most  people  are  apt  to  consider  this 
subject,  indispensable  as  it  is  for  understanding  the 
news  of  the  day,  as  involved  in  deep  mystery,  into 
which  none  but  a  chosen  few  can  hope  to  become 
initiated.  If  there  is  one  subject  more  than  another 
on  which  it  is  desirable  that  all  men  should  be  in- 
formed, and  on  which  almost  all  are  most  deplorably 
ignorant,  it  is  political  economy.  Many  of  the  works 
above  mentioned  are  suited  to  the  most  ordinary  ca- 
pacity from  beginning  to  end  ;  nor  is  there  one  of 
which  most  young  ladies  might  not  improve  by  the 
study  of  many  portions.  Young  ladies  reading  politi- 
cal economy  indeed !  some  will  exclaim ;  and  were 
there  not  some  so  silly  as  to  laugh  in  the  wrong  place, 
this  and  many  other  books  would  be  wholly  unneces- 
sary. It  is  not  many  years  since,  if  indeed  there  are 
not  some  circles  now,  in  which  reading  of  any  kind 
was  held  ridiculous  in  women  :  but  happily  the  opinion 
that  ladies  were  designed  "  to  suckle  fools  and  chro- 
nicle small  beer"  is  less  prevalent. 

We  will  next  consider  the  writers  on 

Mental  Philosophy  and  Metaphysics. — Aber- 
crombie's  work  on  the  Intellectual  Powers  and  the 
Investigation  of  Truth  is  the  best  for  those  who  can 
only  read  one  book.  Another  work  much  more  in- 
teresting to  the  general  reader  is 

Combe's"  Constitution  of  Man"^  considered  in  re- 
lation to  external  objects ;  at  the  same  time  I  should 
recommend  one  of  Combe's  works  on"  Phrenology," 
and  his  "  Lectures  on  Popular  Education."  Whether 
the  reader  believes  in  Phrenology  more,  less,  or  not 
at  all,  the  works  of  Combe  and  Gall  are  deeply  in- 
teresting from  the  facts  they  contain.  The  Phreno- 
logists, and  Physiologists  generally,  write  in  a  very 
lucid  and  pleasing  style.  Indeed,  most  persons  must 
have  observed  that  there  is  no  class  of  men  with 
whom  it  is  so  easy  to  converse,  who  keep  more  to  the 
point,  are  more  properly  to  be  called  clear-headed, 
than  those  included  under  the  name  of  Medical  men. 
Gall's  work  displays  great  learning,  and  is  valuable 
to  every  one  who  would  know  the  history  of  human 
nature.  To  be  altogether  ignorant  of  Phrenology,  in 
the  present  day,  is  to  be  rather  deficient  in  common 
information.  It  is  now  too  late  to  laugh  at  the  science, 
however  much  ridicule  may  attach  to  the  ignorance 
of  many  who  pretend  to  practise  it. 

Locke's  work  "  On  the  Conduct  of  the  Under- 
standing"3  is  brief,  and  easily  intelligible.  This,  as 
well  as  many  parts  of  "Watts  on  the  Mind,"  is  well 
suited  to  young  persons.  Those  who  would  dip  more 
deeply  into  Metaphysics  should  read 

Harris's  "  Philosophical  Arrangements,"  and 

Reid's  "Essays  on  the  Intellectual  Powers  of 
Man,"  to  which  is  annexed  an  analysis  of  Aristotle's 
Logic — these  two  works  will  give  a  general  know- 

'  Principles  of  Political  Economy,  By  H.  C. 
Carey,  3  vols.  8vo.    Lea  &  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

2  Combe  on  Constitution  of  Man,  1  vol.  Ticknor 
&  Co.,  Boston. 

3  Locke  on  the  Understanding,  1  vol,  Kay  & 
Brother,  Philadelphia. 


I  ledge  of  ancient  Metaphysics ; — then  "  Bacon's  No- 
vum Organum  ;"■* 

Locke  "  On  the  Human  Understanding,"  and  the 
works  of  Thomas  Brown^'  and  Dugald  Stewart.* 

But  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  anenii)t  to  lay  down  a 
plan  for  readers  capable  of  protbuiul  investigations; 
I  would  only  remind  them  that  Sir  J.  Mackintosh's 
papers  in  the  "Encyclopaedia  Briianiiica,"  now  col- 
lected in  one  large  volume,  give  the  character  of  every 
philosophical  writer,  and  a  criticism  oil  his  work. 
This  book  may  be  considered  a  valuable  introduction 
to  metaphysical  studies. 

"  The  Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm"'  is  a  very 
clever  Essay,  which  has  gained  great  celebrity  to  its 
author.     He  has  also  written,  among  other  works, 

"  Fanaticism,"''  and 

"  Physical  Theory  of  another  Life." 

The  same  author  has  written  an  Introductory  Es- 
say to 

"An  Enquiry  into  the  modern  prevailing  Notions 
respecting  the  Freedom  of  Will,  which  is  supposed 
to  be  essential  to  Moral  Agency,  Virtue  and  Vice, 
Reward  and  Punishment,  Praise  and  Blame,  by  Jo- 
nathan Edwards,  "s  This  is  a  very  important  subject 
on  which  to  form  a  sound  opinion. 

Hume's  Essays^  are  very  celebrated,  though  the 
skeptical  character  of  the  author  must  not  be  forgotten. 
They  treat  of  matters,  moral,  political,  and  literary; 
the  human  understanding,  the  passions,  principles  of 
morals,  and  the  natural  history  of  religion. 

Many  works  on  Insanity  are  very  interesting  to  the 
general  reader^such  as  those  by  Munro.,  Mayo,  and 
Willis.  Of  course,  it  is  not  intended  that  the  prac- 
tice of  phrenology  or  of  medicine  forms  part  of  the 
qualifications  of  any  but  professional  men ;  still  the 
facts  on  which  the  theories  of  every  class  of  Physio- 
logists are  founded  are  so  deeply  interesting  and  ge- 
nerally useful,  that  they  are  supposed  to  be  to  some 
extent  familiar  to  all  persons  of  good  education.  In 
parts  of  Beck's  "Medical  .lurisprudcnce"'"  you  will 
find  the  tests  of  insanity,  the  kind  of  insanity  by  which 
persons  are  legally  irresponsible,  as  well  as  many  in- 
teresting cases,  in  which  medical  science  has  pro- 
moted the  ends  of  justice.     Also, 

Smith's  "  Forensic  Medicine  ;" 

Winslow's  "Plea  of  Insanity  in  CriminalCases;"  and 

Dr.  Pritchard's  "  Different  Forms  of  Insanity,  in 
reference  to  Criminal  Cases,""  contain  many  inte- 
resting passages.  Works  of  this- kind,  the  unprofes- 
sional will  read  like  a  newspaper,  as  they  happen  to 
have  leisure  and  curiosity.  In  opening  books  of  this, 
and,  indeed,  of  every  other  kind,  we  should  consider 
that  we  dip  into  them  with  our  minds  as  we  would 
into  a  jar  of  filings  with  a  magnet ;  more  or  less  will 
adhere  and  be  gathered  together  in  proportion  as  the 
instrument  has  been  previously  charged.  During  the 
season  of  early  education  and  discipline  the  mind 
must  be  forced  and  tasked ;  but  when  we  read  no 
longer  to  form,  but  to  fill  the  mind,  we  should  be  ad- 
vised only  so  far  as  this :  to  open  a  certain  set  of 
books  and  examine  their  contents,  resolving  to  close 


1  Bacon's  Novum  Organum.  Translated  in 
Montagu's  edition  of  Bacon's  works,  published  by 
Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

5  Brown's  Philosophy,  2  vols.  8vo.  Glazier  &.  Co., 
Hallowell. 

6  Dugald  Stewart's  Complete  Works,  7  vols. 
8vo.    J.  Munroe  &  Co.,  Boston. 

7  The  Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm,  Fana- 
ticism, and  Physical  Theory  of  Another  Life, 
3  vols.    D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  New  York. 

8  Jonathan  Edwards's  Works,  complete  in 4  vols. 
Svo.    Leavitt,  Trow  &  Co.,  New  York. 

8  Hume's  Essays,  2  vols.  Svo.    London. 

'0  Beck's  Medical  Jurisprudence,  2  vols.  8vo. 
Thomas,  Cowperthwait  &  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Taylor's  Medical  Jurisprudence,  I  vol.  Lea 
&  Blanchard,  Philadelphia. 

"  Pritchard  on  Insanity,  1  vol.  Carey  &  Hart, 
Philadelphia. 


48 


A  COURSE   OF    ENGLISH  READING. 


them  when  curiosity  fails.    And  here  we  mny  also  J 
speak,  of  a  line  of  reading  very  generally  useiul,  or 

Popular  Works  on  Medicine. — "  Combe  on  the 
Constitution  of  Man"  is  very  generally  read  by  per- 
sons of  all  ages.  Of  late  so  many  men  of  eminence  i 
have  been  itnpressed  v.iih  a  conviction  that  health  and 
hfe  are  daily  and  hoinly  thrown  away  through  igno- 
rance of  the  most  simple  princijiles  of  health,  air, 
exercise,  food,  and  general  habits,  that  many  works 
have  been  written  not  onh'  for  the  doctors  but  for  the 
patients.  Grimshawe's  "  Letters  i'rom  a  Surgeon  to 
a  Clergyman"  were  written  expressly  ibr  the  guid- 
ance oi  per.sons  \\lio,  as  is  common  with  clergymen, 
are  called  upon  to  decide  whether  certain  symptoms 
demand  medical  aid,  and  wha;t  is  the  best  thing  fo  be 
done  in  cases  of  poisoning,  accidents,  croup,  (fcc, 
before  the  apothecary  arrives.  In  my  own  experience, 
one  life  was  saved  by  a  lady  having  the  sense  to  get 
a  warm  bath  ready  in  case  it  should  be  prescribed 
when  a  child  had  the  croup,  and  another  case  in  vi  hich 
a  fine  fellow  in  the  prime  of  life  was  killed  by  some 
one  being  so  ignorant  as  to  give  him  a  plaie  of  roast 
meat  when  he  seemed  recovering  from  an  attack  of 
inflanmiation. 

Thomson's  "Domestic  Management  of  the  Sick 
Room,  teaching  how  to  assist  not  supersede  the  Me- 
dical Man." 

Recce's  "Medical  Guide,  for  Clergy,  Heads  of 
Families,  &c." 

Macaulay's  "  Popular  Dictionary  of  Medicine." 

"  Curtis  on  Health." 

Dr.  Paris's  "  Treatise  on  Diet." 

Any  one  of  these  will  be  found  useful.  Read  par- 
ticularly an  article  in  the  "  Quarterly,"  No.  CXXX. 
on  Dr.  Holland's  medical  treatment,  and  the  case  of 
St.  Martin  in  America,  in  whom,  from  an  open  wound 
in  the  stomach,  the  process  of  digestion  had  betn 
watched,  and  many  hundreds  of  observations  made 
on  the  digestibility  of  food  and  the  influence  of  various 
habits  both  of  the  mind  and  body.' 

On  Grammar,  Lo&ic,  and  Rhetoric,  the  following 
will  suffice.  The  most  useful  English  grammar  I 
have  ever  seen  is  that  by  the  celebrated  William 
Cobbett.-  He  treats  particularly  of  the  points  on 
which  persons  are  most  commonly  deficient.  There 
is  also  a  grammar  well  worth  perusing  at  the  begin- 
ning of  Maunder's  "  Treasury  of  Knowledge."^  As 
works  of  a  deeper  and  more  philosophical  character, 
Harris's  "Hermes,"  and  Home  Tooke's  "Diver- 
sions of  Purley,"''  are  known  to  most  good  English 
scholars.  The  "Edinburgh"  and  "  Quarterly"  also 
contain  several  instructive  essays,  which  may  be 
found  by  the  index  of  each. 

Dr.  Crombie's  "Etymology  and  Syntax  of  the 
English  language"  is  also  in  high  repute. 

On  Logic,  read  Whateley's  "  Elements, "^  and  a 
Treatise  by  Dr.  Moberly,  and  "  Edinburgh  Review," 
No.  115.  The  Oxford  student  should  make  Aldrich 
his  text  book,  and  use  the  treatises  of  Huyshe,  Mo- 
berly, Hill,  Questions  on  Logic  and  Answers  to  the 
Questions  to  explain  Aldrich.  Also  Hampden's  ar- 
ticle on  the  Rhetoric  of  Aristotle,  Woolley's  "  Lo- 
gic," and  select  chapters  of  Aristotle's  "  Organon." 
Mr.  Newman's  "Lectures  on  Logic,"  delivered  at 
Bristol,  are  much  admired. 

OnRhetoric,  read  Whateley's  "Elements, "=  Camp- 
bell's "  Plrilosophy  of  Rhetoric, "^  and  translations 
of  Cicero,  Quintilian,  and  Aristotle's  "Rhetoric;" 
also,  Hampden's  article  upon  it  before  mentioned. 

Grammar,  Logic,  and  Rhetoric  are  three  subjects 


i'     '  Beaumont's  Experiments,  1  vol.  8vo.     $1.50. 

2  Cobbett's  Grammar,  1  vol.  J.  Doyle,  New  York. 

3  Maunder's  Treasury  of  Knowledge,   1  vol. 
New  York. 

*  Tooke's  Diversions  of  Purley,  1  vol.  Agnew, 
Philadelphia. 
;■      5  Whateley's  Logic,  and  Rhetoric     J,  Munroe 
",;  &  Co.,  Boston. 

i  !     6  Campbell's  Philosophy   of   Rhetoric,  1  vol. 
'   Harper  &  Brothers   New  York. 


on  which  those  only  who  are  naturally  fond  of  science 
should  study  deeply;  still  no  one  can  be  considered 
soundly  educated  who  has  not  read  and  reflected  on 
one  treatise  upon  each  subject. 

Lastli/.  The  best  general  History  of  Ancient  Phi- 
losophy, Moral,  and  Metaphysical,  is  that  by  Ritter, 
in  3  vols.,  translated  froin  the  German  by  Mr.  Mor- 
rison of  Trin.  Coll.  Camb. 

ON  THE  FINE  ARTS. 

Painting,  Sculpture,  and  Architecture  are  three 
subjects  on  which  nearly  all  persons  of  poliie  educa- 
tion, professional  or  unprofessional,  feel  compelled  to 
conceal  ignorance  if  they  cannot  display  knowledge. 
It  is  not  my  purpose  to  minister  to  the  vanity  of  those 
who  pick  up  the  names  of  a  few  ancient  masters  or 
galleries,  and  aflcct  to  be  connoisseurs:  but  two  or 
three  simple  directions  for  attaining  the  elements  of 
criticism  and  a  general  history  of  art  may  be  profit- 
able in  various  ways.  It  will  save  us  from  that  shame 
and  confusion  which  we  should  otherwise  feel  when 
the  fine  arts  form  the  subject  of  conversation  ;  it  will 
enable  us  to  understand  the  elegant  illustrations 
which  authors  commonly  derive  from  the  arts  ;  it  will 
qualify  us  to  profit  by  the  conversation  of  men  of  taste, 
giving  a  nucleus  for  gathering  a  new  kind  of  matter, 
drawing  forth  a  new  power  ot  the  mind,  and  opening 
to  us  a  never-failing  source  of  the  purest  pleasure 
and  refinement. 

I  trust  I  may  encourage  my  young  friends  with  the 
assurance  that,  great  as  is  the  advantage  of  cultivating 
a  taste  and  acquiring  knowledge  of  the  fine  arts,  this 
to  many  minds  is  a  work  of  very  little  time  or  toil.  It 
consists  more  in  observation  than  in  reading,  and  in 
opening  our  eyes  and  ears  with  eager  curiosity  on 
occasions  in  which  they  are  very  frequently  closed  or 
turned  away.  Indeed,  so  prevalent  is  the  opinion 
that  to  judge  of  any  picture,  statue,  or  piece  of  archi- 
tecture requires  some  innate  qualities  with  which  only 
a  chosen  few  are  endowed,  that  many  persons  pos- 
sessing not  less  judgment,  but  more  honesty,  than 
their  neighbours,  confess  that  for  them  to  visit  works 
of  art  is  mere  waste  of  time,  that  they  know  what  is 
pleasing  to  themselves,  but  cannot  venture  an  opinion, 
being  aware  that  such  things  are  not  within  the  sphere 
of  their  understanding.  The  large  class  of  readers 
who  will  see  themselves  in  this  representation  may 
be  assured  that  they  have  formed  a  very  unfair  esti- 
mate of  their  own  capacities;  and  that  with  a  little 
attention  to  the  following  directions  they  may  be  bet- 
ter qualified  to  give  an  opinion  of  works  of  art  than 
many  of  the  most  confident  connoisseurs  of  their  ac- 
quaintance. 

We  will  begin  with  Painting. 

First.  Request  some  intelligent  friend  who  is  fond 
of  drawing  and  examining  pictures,  to  accompany  you 
to  some  extensive  collection,  and  improve  the  oppor- 
tunity according  to  the  suggestions  of  the  following 
anecdote : — 

A  youth  of  my  acquaintance,  who  had  been  more 
than  once  in  the  National  Gallery  without  seeing  the 
peculiar  merit  of  any  of  the  pictures,  chanced  to  visit 
them  in  company  with  a  professional  painter  of  correct 
judgment  and  good  common  sense.  He  observed  on 
entering  that  he  knew  nothingofthe  value  of  paintings, 
and  would  gladly  receive  a  little  general  instruction. 
The  painter  told  him  to  look  on  each  picture  atten- 
tively, compare  it  with  what  he  knew  of  nature,  and 
say  honestly,  not  what  others  thought,  or  what  he 
had  heard  or  read,  but  simply  what  impression  it 
produced  on  his  own  mind.  The  opinions  so  elicited 
proved  nearly  all  to  savour  of  truth.  In  some  in- 
stances, the  artist  told  him  to  consider  if  he  was  con- 
versant with  nature  under  the  pecuhar  forms  repre- 
sented, and  whether  he  knew  how  much  lay  within 
the  sphere  of  art ;  at  the  same  time  observing  that 
these  two  points  would  require  a  comparison  of  paint- 
ings, first  with  nature,  and  then  with  each  other. 
With  such  hints  and  cautions  was  this  youth  restricted 
to  judging  on  such  points  only  as  were  within  the 
range  of  ordinary  judgment.    If  he  felt  encouraged 


A   COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


49 


by  the  frequent  corroboration  of  his  own  opinions  by 
thoae  of  the  artist,  he  was  yet  more  prompted  to  the 
full  use  of  his  facuhies  and  open  expression  of  his 
septiments,  by  the  repeated  assurance  that  nature 
had  made  nearly  all  persons  judges  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent, and  that,  if  any  were  disqualified  to  give  an  opi- 
nion of  her  imitators,  they  were  generally  to  be  found 
among  a  certain  set  of  pretending  connoisseurs  whose 
vanity  had  led  them  so  long  to  appropriate  the  sense 
and  opinions  of  others  that  they  had  lost  the  free  use 
of  their  own.  On  that  day  my  friend  discovered  how 
much  he  knew  about  paintings,  and  the  precise  points 
in  which  he  was  deficient ;  namely,  that  he  wanted 
a  more  intimate  and  extensive  acquaintance  with  na- 
ture, a  knowledge  of  the  limits  of  art,  and  correct 
standard  of  excellence  in  each  kind  of  painting,  as 
also  the  leading  principles  of  perspective  and  composi- 
tion. These  are  the  chief  points  in  which  most  com- 
mon observers  are  deficient. 

SecoTidly.  Accustom  yourselves  to  observe  land- 
scapes, figures,  &c.  in  nature,  and  compare  them  with 
paintings  of  similar  subjects.  To  appreciate,  for  in- 
stance, the  famous  sea  pieces  by  the  Vanderveldes, 
you  must  observe  the  degree  of  buoyancy  in  ships 
upon  the  water,  of  distinctness  in  the  outlines  and 
picturesque  swelling  of  the  sails ;  and  so,  also,  with 
reference  to  other  pictures,  observe  the  clouds,  the 
tints  of  evening,  and  the  foliage  at  different  seasons, 
and,  indeed,  all  other  things,  which  works,  below 
mentioned,  will  suggest. 

Thirdly.  Compare  the  works  of  those  who  have 
treated  the  same  subject  with  difierent  degrees  of 
excellence.  Do  not  join  in  decrying  modern  pictures, 
unless  you  can  discern  their  peculiar  points  of  infe- 
riority. Universal  censure  and  universal  praise  are 
equally  unphilosophical,  and  far  from  truth ;  both 
must  be  qualified.  More  knowledge  is  required  to 
point  out  beauties  than  defects.  Things  are  good  and 
bad  by  comparison  ;  we  must  therefore  study  the  best 
specimens  of  each  kind  of  pictures  till  they  are  firmly 
impressed  upon  our  memory,  so  as  to  .serve  as  a 
common  measure  or  standard  of  excellence  by  which 
to  value  all  others  of  the  same  class. 

Fourthly.  We  must  take  every  opportunity  of  con- 
versing and  comparing  our  own  opinions  with  those 
of  others,  or,  which  is  the  same  thing,  after  seeing 
several  pictures  by  Claude  or  Titian,  for  example, 
we  may  read  some  accotmt  of  their  characters  and 
criticism  on  their  style.  There  is  no  want  of  critical 
discussions  on  the  styles  of  the  ancient  masters; 
every  picture  of  celebrity  has  been  the  subject  of  an 
essay.  And  as  to  the  practicabihty  of  obtaining  the 
advantage  of  conversation  with  those  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  art,  it  must  be  observed  that  men  are 
generally  communicative  on  the  subject  of  their  fa- 
vourite studies.  It  is  natural  with  man  to  take  an 
interest  in  those  of  similar  taste.  Doubtless  the 
Creator  ordained  this  sympathy  between  those  capa- 
ble of  instructing  each  other,  as  a  provision  for  the 
improvement  of  society.  At  all  events,  believe  me, 
there  is  such  an  instinct,  and  a  really  teachable  spirit 
can  generally  find  a  njaster.  Besides,  as  to  paintings 
of  genius,  their  admirers  say  that  every  time  they 
examine  them  they  discover  new  beauties,  and  that 
ordinary  observers  frequently  point  out  a  touch  of 
nature  which  the  professed  artist  has  overlooked. 
Again,  it  is  not  absolutely  necessary  that  you  should 
meet  an  artist  in  a  picture  gallery  to  gain  much  of  the 
assistance  he  is  able  to  afford.  Whenever  you  meet 
a  nian  of  taste  in  company,  the  drawing-room  table 
will  be  found  furnished  with  some  book  of  prints 
taken  from  the  works  of  ancient  masters,  which  will 
readily  furnish  the  occasion  and  the  subject  of  a  lec- 
ture. Young  ladies,  I  am  sure,  can  never  be  at  a  loss 
to  improve  such  opportunities.  And  as  to  the  gentle- 
men, especially  those  who  have  money  at  command, 
if  they  will  only  inquire  for  one  of  the  many  ill-paid 
but  well-deservinjf  artists,  they  may  receive  such  pe- 
ripatetic lectures  in  the  National  or  Dulwich  Gallery 
as  will  be  a  very  valuable  initiation  into  the  secret's 
of  art.  Indeed,  most  happy  should  I  be,  if,  by  this 
7 


casual  observation,  I  could  open  a  new  and  honour- 
able source  of  emolument  to  a  class  of  men  who  con- 
duce very  much  to  the  refinement  and  ornaments 
of  life,  and  receive  very  little  in  return.  How  many 
thousands  are  there  in  London  whose  fathers  have 
earned  in  the  East  sums  which  they  are  squandering 
in  the  West  (end),  and  to  whom  it  would,  if  they 
only  thought  of  it,  be  a  pleasure  to  be  lionized  for 
two  or  three  mornings  by  a  person  well  qualified  to 
inform  and  amuse  them  !  How  many  of  that  order 
of  society  who  are  called  callous,  selfish,  and  indiffer- 
ent to  ail  wants  but  their  o%vn,  have  quite  heart 
enough  to  confess  that  they  would  feel  an  extra  relish 
in  their  own  dinner,  if  they  had  earned  an  appetite 
in  a  way  that  provided  a  more  generous  meal  lo  one 
who  had  as  much  sensibihty,  though  less  comfort  than 
themselves. 

Whether  my  readers  adopt  this  or  any  other  method 
of  improvement,  they  should  bear  in  mind  that  their 
object  must  not  be  to  gain  mere  critical  knowledge, 
and  the  terms  and  mechanical  part  of  the  art  of  paint- 
ing. In  this  point  of  view  a  house  painter  would  be 
nearly  as  good  a  teacher  as  an  artist.  But  they  should 
endeavour  to  gain  a  correct  taste  of  beauty  and  pro- 
priety of  expression,  as  well  as  a  due  appreciation  of 
that  invention  and  grandeur  of  conception  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  highest  specimens  of  art.  Sir  Waller 
Scott  showed  tliat  he  knew  the  spirit  in  which  pictures- 
were  to  be  studied,  when  he  said  that  those  of  Sir 
David  Wilkie  gave  him  new  ideas ; — that  there  are 
ideas  in  pictures  is  a  fact  which  many  persons  have  yet 
to  learn.  But  I  must  trust  to  works  which  will  shortly 
follow,  to  show  how  paintings  by  men  of  genius  are  to 
b^  read  almost  like  a  poem,  and  that  the  conceptions 
of  a  grand  imagination,  and  select  delineation  of 
nature's  beauties,  are  the  subject-matter  of  painter  and 
poet  alike,  though  the  one  conveys  them  with  the 
pencil  and  the  other  with  the  pen. 

I  will  now  enumerate  the  books  best  suited  to  givf 
a  general  knowledge  of  art. 

Sir  Joshua  Reynolds'.^  "  Discourses  to  the  Students 
of  the  Royal  Academy"  have  been  lately  published, 
illustrated  by  explanatory  notes  and  plates  by  J 
Burnet,  F.  R.  S.'  Those  whocannot  procure  this  work 
may  purchase  for  one  shilling  and  nine-pence  No. 
XXVII.  of  the  "  Student's  Cabinet  Library  of  Useful 
Tracts,"  containing  a  very  excellent  selection  of  thosi 
discourses.  Sir  Joshua,  it  must  be  observed,  was  a 
very  accomplished  scholar.  Before  Edmund  Burke 
published  his  "  Letters  on  the  French  Revolution," 
he  submitted  them  to  Sir  Joshua's  consideration.  All 
of  these  discourses  show  a  very  superior  mind,  and  are 
valuable  to  students  of  every  kind  of  art  and  literature. 
I  have  scarcely  known  any  questions  arise  concerning 
the  limits  and  province  of  the  imaginative  arts'which- 
Ihese  writings  do  not  tend  to  elucidate.  The  following 
topics  may  serve  as  a  specimen  : — How  to  "  snatch  a 
grace  beyond  the  reach  of  art:" — different  stages  of 
art;  selecting  better  than  copying;  how  to  gain  the 
materials  of  knowledge  ;  of  the  grand  style;  of  beauty; 
general  nature  to  be  distinguished  from  local  fashion  ; 
the  meaning  of  invention ;  e.xact  copying  of  nature,  not 
properly  to  be  called  natural ;  genius  begins  where  art 
ends;  meaning  of  taste  ;  standard  of  taste  ;  the  style 
and  characteristics  of  each  school  and  ancient  master, 
&c. 

At  the  same  time  that  we  read  Sir  Joshua's  dis- 
courses, and  all  other  lectures  or  essays  on  art,  Pil- 
kington's  "  Lives  of  the  Painters"  will  be  a  useful 
hand-book.-  Of  this  there  is  a  good  abstract,  in  one 
small  volume,  by  Dr.  Shepard,  who  selected  and 
abridged  100  out  of  1400  of  the  lives  written  by  Pil- 
kington.  This  is  quite  comprehensive  enough  for 
general  purposes.  I  would  recommend  the  student  to 
procure  an  interleaved  copy,  and  take  it  with  him  as  a 

'  Reynolds's  Discotjrses.  1  vol.  4to.  Carpenter, 
London. 

^  Pilkington's  Lives  of  the  Painters.  A  new 
edition,  by  Allan  Cunningham.     1  vol.  8vo.     Cheap 
edition.     T.  Tegg,  London. 
E 


50 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


convenient  catalogue  and  critique  when  he  visits  col-  [ 
lections  of  paintings.  For,  suppose  he  sees  some 
paintings  by  Claude  or  Titian,  by  turning  to  their  re- 
spective biographies  he  will  have  his  attention  directed 
to  the  pecu!i;ir  characteristics  of  ilie  style  of  each,  lie 
will  feel  aa  interest  in  making  a  memorandum,  as  that 
such  a  latid.>^capc  is  in  such  a  gallery,  or  that  such  a 
picture  more  or  less  e.xemphtics  any  critical  remark. 
While  reading  or  looking  over  a  catalogue  of  an  ex- 
hibition which  he  has  not  yet  visited,  he  can  write 
down  the  place  where  any  celebrated  picture  may  be 
seen  on  some  future  occasion. 

It  may  be  useful  here  to  enumerate  the  several 
schools  of  painting.     These  are, — 

The  Roman  school,  comprehending  Raphael,  Che- 
rubino  Alberti,  Giovanni  Alberti,  Caravaggio,  Gauli, 
Michael  Angelo,  Campidoglio,  Carlo  Maratti,  Andrea 
Sacchi : 

The  Venetian  school,  in  which  are,  Titian,  Annibal 
Caracci,  Tintoretto,  Paolo  Veronese,  Ludovico  Ca- 
racci,  Giacomo  Bassano,  Francesco  Bassano,  Fran- 
cisco Bolognese : 

The  P'lorentine  school,  with  Michael  Angelo  Buo- 
narotii,  Andrea  del  Sarto.  Leonardo  da  Vinci: 

The  Bologna  school,  with  Guido,  Albano,  Dome- 
nichino,  Guercino,  Lanfranc,  Correggio: 

The  Flemish  and  Dutch,  of  which  are  Rubens, 
Vandyck,  Renibrant,  Teniers,  Godfrey  Kneller, 
Wouvermans,  Vanderveldt,  Albert  Durer,  Hans  Hol- 
bein, Sir  Peter  Lely. 

The  French  school,  with  Poussin,  Le  Brun,  Perrier, 
Fresnoy,  Claude ; 

The  Spanish  school,  of  which  are  Murillo,  Ximenes, 
Velasquez,  Gallego:  and  others  in  each  school,  tob 
many  to  mention. 

Of  the  English  school,  the  most  remarkable  are  the 
following,  noticed  in  Allan  Cunningham's  "British 
Painters  :"' — Jameson,  the  Scotch  Vandyck  ;  Verrio, 
La  Guerre,  and  Thornhill,  architectural  painters ; 
Hogarth,  Wilson,  Reynolds,  Gainsborough,  Ramsay, 
(Scotch),  Romney,  Runcinian  (Scotch),  Copley,  Mor- 
limer,  Raeburn  (Scotch),  Hoppner,  Owen,  Harlow, 
Bonington,  Cosway,  Allan,  Northcote,  Sir  T.  Law- 
rence, Sir  H.  Beaumont,  who  aided  in  forming  the 
National  Gallery,  Liverseege,  Burnet,  Fuseli,  West, 
Bird,  Barry,  Blake,  Opie,  Morland. 

Of  the  painters  of  later  days,  Mr.  Bulwer,  in  his 
"England  and  the  English,"  enumerates  in  historical 
painting,  Haydon,  Hilton,  Westall,  Etty,  Martin  ;  in 
portrait  painting,  Owen,  Jackson,  Pickersgill,  Philips; 
in  fancy  painting,  Wilkie,  Maclise,  Parris,  Howard, 
Chnt,  Webster,  Newton ;  in  landscape  painting. 
Turner,  Stanfield,  Fielding,  Callcott,  J.  Wilson,  Har- 
ding, Stanley,  besides  Landscer,  Roberts,  Prout, 
McICensie,  Lance,  Derby,  Cooper,  Hancock,  Davis. 

Dr.  Shepard  gives  the  following  list  of  books 
which  he  considered  necessary  to  be  consulted,  in 
order  to  become  a  judge  of  painting : — 

Vasari's  "Lives;"  Sandrart's  "Lives  of  Paint- 
ers;" Du  Piles's  ditto;  Lord  Orford's,  4  vols.; 
"  Vertue's  Life  ;"  "  Gilpin  on  Prints  ;"  Dallaway's 
"Anecdotes;"  Cochin's  "Travels  throu»h  Italy," 
3  vols.  French  ;  "  Richardson  on  Painting  ;"  Raphael 
Mengs's  "Works,"  2  vols.;  Winckelman's  "Works." 
Forty  years  ago  these  were  probably  the  best  works, 
but  all  that  is  valuable  in  them  has  doubtless  been 
adopted  by  later  authors.  The  three  following  works 
in  the  same  list  are  still  popular  : — Sir  J.  Reynolds's 
"Lectures,"  above  mentioned;  Cumberland's  "  Lives 
:  of  Spanish   Painters,"    and   Fuseli's    "  Three  Lec- 

•  tures;"  a  copy  of  the  last  is  pubhshed  in  the  "  Life 

•  of  Fuseli." 

I  have  before  said  that  a  continual  comparison  of 
pictures  with  nature  and  with  each  other  is  the  chief 
source  of  knowledge  ;  still  some  books  will  quicken 
our  observation  both  of  nature  and  of  art ;  of  these 
the  best,  next  to  the  Discourses  of  Sir  Joshua,  are — 

"  Criticisms  on  Art,"  and  "  Sketches  of  the  Pic- 

1  Allan  Cunningham's  Lives  of  the  English 
Painters.    3  vols.    Harpers'  Family  Library. 


ture  Galleries  of  England,"  by  Wm.  Hazhtt.    This 
contains  catalogues  of  the  principal  galleries. 

Mrs.  Jameson's  "Handbook  to  Public  Galleries 
of  Art,"  in  or  near  London. 

"Art  and  Arlisls  in  England,  being  Descriptions 
of  the  Public  and  Private  Collections  of  Works  of 
Art,"  by  Dr.  Waagen  of  Berlin. 

"  Handbook  of  Painting  :  Italy."  Translated  from 
the  German  of  Kugler,  by  C.  L.  Eastlake,  R.  A. 

"  Paintinsr  and  Fine  Arts,"  by  R.  B.  Haydon  and 
W.  Hazhtt." 

"Synopsis  of  Practical  Perspective,  Linear  and 
Aerial,"  exemplified  by  19  Plates. 

"  Book  of  the  Cartoons,"  by  the  Rev.  R.  Catter- 
mole. 

"  The  Dresden  Gallery,"  consisting  of  drawings 
on  stone  from  the  finest  originals  in  this  collection. 
This  is  an  expensive  work,  consisting  of  120  pictures, 
price,  when  complete,  about  40?.  Still  separate  num- 
bers of  this  work  are  not  uncommonly  accessible. 

"Selection  of  Figures  from  Pictures  in  England," 
by  Claude,  Watteau,  and  Canaletto  ;  combining  Ara- 
besques and  other  embellishments,  with  figures  and 
groups,  from  celebrated  works  by  these  masters. 
"  Presenting  a  great  number  of  subjects  capable  by 
their  variety  and  interest  of  affording  a  large  fund  of 
amusement  and  instruction  both  in  the  drawing-room 
and  study  of  the  amateur."  Similar  use  may  be 
madcof  many  prints  in  the  "  Pictorial  Bible,"  Fisher's 
"  Illustrations  of  the  Bible  from  the  Old  Masters," 
with  60  Plates;  and  "  Mant's  Bible."  I  remember 
seeing  a  young  person  quite  surprised  at  the  extent  to 
which  she  was  able  to  discriminate  the  styles  of  dif- 
ferent masters,  after  turning  over  a  set  of  these  illus- 
trations. 

Merimee,  "  Art  of  Painting  in  Oil  and  Fresco," 
describes  all  the  methods  and  materials  used  by  the 
great  continental  schools  of  painting  during  the  best 
period  of  the  art.  It  has  been  translated  by  W.  B. 
S.  Taylor,  who  has  added  an  historical  sketch  of  the 
English  school  of  painting. 

"  Museum  of  Fainting  and  Sculpture,"  being  a 
collection  of  engravings  from  the  principal  pictures, 
statues,  and  bas-reliets  in  the  galleries  of  Europe, 
with  1200  plates  !     Price  six  guineas. 

The  works  of  Hogarth,  with  explanations  of  each 
plate,  have  been  published  in  the  "  Penny  Maga- 
zine," but  more  completely  in  fifty-two  numbers  by 
John  Nicholls,  F.  S.  A.  Of  all  the  paintings  in  the 
National  Gallery,  those  of  Hogarth  are  examined  by 
the  greatest  numlser  of  persons.  This  observation 
was  confirmed  by  one  of  the  attendants. 

Allan  Cunningham's  "British  Painters,"  in  the 
"  Family  Library,"  is  a  book  of  much  general  infor- 
mation. The  same  author  has  written  a  "  Life  of  Sir 
David  Wilkie."  Much  may  also  be  derived  from 
the  "Life  of  Titian;"  "Life  of  Sir  Thomas  Law- 
rence;" "  Life  of  Fuseli." 

We  will  next  consider 

The  Art  of  Sculpture,  though  comparatively  lit- 
tle remains  to  be  said.  By  cultivating  a  taste  for  the 
highest  order  of  painting,  which  is  characterized  not 
by  meretricious  ornament  but  grandeur  of  conception 
and  simplicity  of  execution,  we  shall  not  be  at  a  loss 
to  judge  of  sculpture. 

The  history  of  sculpture  is  very  fully  given  in  the 
"  Penny  Cyclopaedia."  You  will  there  find  an  enu- 
meration of  all  traces  of  the  art  found  in  Scripture. 
The  extent  to  which  it  flourished  among  the  Hebrews, 
Babylonians,  and  Phoenicians,  being  little  known,  is 
the  subject  of  only  a  few  pages :  but  the  style  of 
sculpture  at  different  periods  among  the  Persians, 
Egyptians,  Etrurians,  Greeks,  and  Romans,  admits 
of  being  illustrated  with  reference  to  existing  remains. 
Of  each  of  these  schools,  therefore,  we  have  a  suc- 
cinct account.  The  history  of  Greek  sculpture  is 
written  with  peculiar  care,  and  in  the  space  of  a  few 
double-columned  pages  the  reader  may  have  a  clear 
general  view,  sufficient,  indeed,  to  give  an  increased 
interest  in  the  collection  of  the  British  Museum,  as 
well  as  in  drawings  of  these  and  many  other  admired 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


51 


works  not  so  easily  accessible.  Tlie  revival  of  the  art 
in  Italy  is  usually  ascribed  to  the  tenth  or.  eleventh 
century,  though  Flaxman  traces  it  from  the  age  of 
Constantine.  FuseU  remarks  that  the  arts  had  never 
been  wholly  lost  in  Italy,  because  there  many  barba- 
rians had  been  long  used  to  behold  works  of  art  while 
serving  in  the  Ronrian  armies,  and  were  thus  animated 
with  a  nobler  spirit  than  the  less  disciplined  invaders 
of  other  lands.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  history  of  the 
revival  is  given  in  the  same  article,  nearly  down  to 
the  present  time.  I  can  recommend  also  the  articles 
on  Bronze,  Folycletus,  Phidias,  Fhigaleian  Marbles, 
Elgin  Marbles,  Townley  Marbles,  Praxiteles,  Benve- 
nuto  Celleni. 

Allan  Cunningham's  "  Lives  of  the  British  Sculp- 
tors,"' in  the  "Family  Library,"  contains  a  good 
account  of  British  art. 

The  "  Encyclopaedia  Brilannica"  has  also  an  article 
on  sculpture,  with  more  criticism  than  that  in  the 
"Penny  Cyclopasdia."  It  is  illustrated  by  plates, 
which,  indeed,  are  almost  indispensable  for  any  essay 
on  art  which  is  not  purely  historical.  Many  works 
above  mentioned,  especially  those  on  painting,  throw 
light  upon  the  art  of  sculpture  :  this  will  appear  even 
from  their  titles.  Mrs.  Gray's  "  Etruria,"  Sir  G. 
Wilkinson's  "Egyptians,"  and  Dr.  Wordsworth's 
"  Illustrated  Greece,"  of  course  supply  the  best  pos- 
sible information  on  Etrurian,  Egyptian,  and  Grecian 
art  respectively. 

■Reveil's  "  Museum  of  Fainting  and  Sculpture" 
gives  not  only  the  paintings,  but  the  statues  and  bas- 
reliefs  in  the  public  and  private  collections  of  Europe. 

"Description  of  the  Ancient  Marbles  in  the  British 
Museum,  with  Engravings,"  will  teach  the  principles 
of  criticism.   , 

"  The  Monumental  Remains  of  Noble  and  Emi- 
nent Persons"  comprises  the  sepulchral  antiquities  of 
Great  Britain. 

Flaxman's  "  Lectures  and  Illustrations  of  Hesiod, 
Homer.  jEschylus,  and  Dante,"  are  beyond  all  praise. 
"  The  Life  of  Flaxman,"  and  of  every  other  sculp- 
tor, will  convey  much  general  information.  I  have 
only  to  !#d,  that  the  British  Museum,  Westminster 
Abbey  (of  which  a  history  has  been  written  by  Smith, 
Flaxman,  and  others),  and  almost  every  cathedral, 
will  not  fail  to  improve  a  visitor  who  carefully  exa- 
mines and  compares  every  piece  of  sculpture,  and  takes 
the  earliest  opportunity  on  his  return  home  to  correct 
his  own  observations  by  conversing  with  men  of  taste, 
or  by  reading  critical  essays  on  the  respective  artists. 

Lastly,  on  Akchitecture.  The  same  remarks  as 
to  method,  prints,  illustrated  works,  general  observa- 
tion, conversing  with  men  of  taste,  will  of  course  apply 
to  this  subject. 

To  begin  with  a  general  view,  take  the  article  on 
Architecture,  contained  in  a  few  pages  of  Chambers's 
'•Information  for  the  People,"  price  only  three-half- 
pence. In  this  we  have  an  outline,  and  by  means  of 
Its  many  simple  woodcuts  may  learn  to  distinguish  the 
several  orders  and  styles.  Study  this  paper  till  you 
have  a  clear  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  its  con- 
tents ;  and  from  that  moment  you  will  be  much  more 
competent  to  speak  of  architecture  than  most  of  your 
neighbours  ;  so  rare  is  it  to  find  persons  conversant 
with  the  shortest  treatise,  even  of  an  easy  and  in- 
teresting subject. 

Secondly,  take  Barr's  "  Anglican  Church  Archi- 
tecture," which  contains  also  interesting  details  of 
ecclesiastical  furniture:  Bloxam's  "Gothic  Archi- 
tecture" is  also  very  clearly  written:  both  of  these 
works  have  numerous  engravings.  As  a  companion 
or  dictionary  for  constant  reference. 

"  The  Glossary  of  Architecture"^  is  admirable :  this 
contains  explanations  of  the  terms  used  in  Grecian, 
Roman,  Italian,  and  Gothic  architecture,  with  700 
woodcuts :  400  additional  examples  to  the  same  work 


'  Allajt  Cunningham's  Lives  of  the  British 
Sculptors,  3  vols.  Harpers'  Family  Library. 

2  Glossary  of  Architecture,  1  vol.  8vo.  D. 
Bogue,  London. 


have  lately  been  published  separately.  For  further 
information  read  the  paper  on  "  Gaily  Knight's  Ar- 
chitectural Tour,"  No.  CXXXIX.  of  the  "Edin- 
burgh Review ;  and  others  which  may  be  found  both 
in  that  and  the  "  Quarterly."  Also,  the  Cyclopae- 
dias, under  the  terms  Architecture,  Arch,  Architrave, 
Ionian,  Corinthian,  Paestum,  and  under  the  name  of 
any  famous  building,  temple,  &c. 

Read  also,  in  No.  XIX.  of  the  "  Family  Library," 
the  lives  of  William  of  Wykeham,  Inigo  Jones,  Sir 
Christopher  Wren,  Sir  J.  Vanbrugh,  James  Gibbs, 
William  Kent,  and  Sir  W.  Chambers,  who,  I  am 
happy  to  observe,  as  an  encouragement  to  young  men 
of  fortune  to  avail  themselves  of  all  the  opportunities 
which  wealth  commands,  was  employed  by  George 
III.,  when  heir  apparent,  as  a  tutor  in  architecture. 

When  the  student  of  the  Fine  Arts  has  fully  availed 
himself  of  all  these  hints,  he  may  be  safely  trusted 
to  run  alone. 

THE  WAY  TO  STUDY  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

If  my  readers  have  not  "an  understanding  heart," 
they  stand  in  need  of  spiritual  assistance,  and  must 
seek  it  where  alone  it  is  to  be  found,  before  they  can 
ever  be  quahfied  to  "  read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly 
digest"  the  Holy  Scriptures.  For  they  are,  as  says 
the  Apostle,  spiritually  discerned.  None  but  those 
of  poetical  taste  can  appreciate  the  poetry  of  Scrip- 
ture :  none  but  those  of  musical  taste  can  appreciate 
the  flow  of  its  most  harmonious  periods,  though  aided 
by  all  the  powers  of  music.  The  poet  has  a  natural 
sympathy  for  the  one,  and  the  musician  for  the  other. 
Can  the  sluggard  and  the  drunkard  enter  into  your 
meaning  when  you  speak  of  the  pleasures  of  the  tem- 
perate man  as  he  goes  forth  to  hear  the  carol  of  the 
lark  and  breathe  the  fresh  incense  of  the  morning  ? 
Can  the  young  appreciate  the  sober  cautions  and 
chastened  judgment  of  age  ?  Can  the  old  enter  into 
the  buoyant  hopes  and  bright  visions  of  youth  ?  If 
not,  what  do  these  instances  prove  ?  One  lesson  is 
taught  by  each ;  namely,  that  our  enjoyment  or  ap- 
preciation of  every  pleasure  depends  on  a  certain  dis- 
cernment, habit,  or  other  qualification  in  ourselves, 
and  therefore  the  mind  best  adapted  to  judge  of  one 
may  be  no  kind  of  measure  of  another. 

May  we  not,  then,  suppose  that  spiritual  things  also 
require  a  peculiar  discernment,  habit,  or  other  quali- 
fication ?  For  spiritual  things  are  of  the  nature  of 
deep  counsel  and  eternal  truth,  which  require  the 
humble  and  teachable  disposition  of  age :  secondly, 
they  savour  of  all  that  is  pure,  simple,  and,  in  the  best 
sense,  natural,  so  require  the  wholesome  taste  of 
chastened  temperance :  thirdly,  they  are  of  the  na- 
ture of  what  is  most  lovely,  noble,  exalted  and  divine ; 
they  require  a  spirit  of  holiness,  fervent  piety  and 
thoughts,  above  mere  things  of  earth.  It  appears,  then, 
that  under  the  name  of  Spiritual  are  included  several 
orders  of  things  of  which  each  is  allowed  to  require  a 
peculiar  taste  or  other  quahfication,  taken  separately  : 
miich  more,  then,  shall  a  peculiar  qualification  be  re- 
quired for  enjoying,  improving  by,  or  entering  into 
the  spirit  of  the  same  things  taken  collectively.  Spi- 
ritual things,  therefore,  can  only  be  understood  in  a 
peculiar  way ;  they  are  not  intellectually  discerned ; 
but,  as  says  the  Apostle,  they  are  "spiritually  dis- 
cerned;" that  is,  they  are  discerned,  understood,  and 
appreciated  only  by  those  to  whom  there  has  been 
given  a  heart  in  sympathy,  in  unison,  and  in  harmony 
with  them. 

However,  the  advice  I  proposed  to  give  concerns 
the  mind.  I  must  therefore  presume  that  my  readers 
have  to  some  e.xtent  the  necessary  qualification  for 
studying  the  holy  writings,  and  proceed  to  lay  down 
a  plan  for  improving  by  what  the  Scriptures  address 
both  to  the  mind  and  to  the  soul  >vithout  further  cau- 
tion or  comment. 

Let  us  consider  the  best  method  of  studying, 

First,  The  text  of  Scripture — the  Word. 

Secondly,  Commentaries ;  to  which  belong. 

Thirdly,  Biblical  antiquities — Jewish  history — ver- 
sions of  Scripture,  and 


52 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


Fourthly,  Doctrines — Articles — the  Prayer-Book. 
Fifthly,  The  principal  writers  on  Divinity  in  order. 
Sixthly,  Books  for  the  closet. 

1.  THE  TEXT  OF  SCRIPTURE. 

■  Select  a  copy  of  the  Bible  not  larger  than  an  octavo, 
with  as  much  margin  as  possible.  The  one  I  use  has 
uncut  edges  and  flexible  back,  a  minion  8vo  from  the 
Clarendon  Press,  without  marginal  references.  If 
you  use  a  4to  volume,  you  will  not  so  readily  turn  to 

'  parallel  verses.  A  large  Bible  is  best  for  reading 
aloud,  but  a  small  Bible  for  the  study.  Marginal  re- 
ferences, every  student  blessed  with  a  sound  and  ac- 

"  tive  mind  should  make  for  himself  When  you  make 
a  study  of  the  Scriptures,  read  with  pen  in  hand  ;  and 
decide  on  a  few  simple  marks  to  affix  to  verses  which 

,  are  most  important,  as  supporting  doctrines,  proving 
the  genuineness  or  authenticity  of  any  part  of  Scrip- 
ture, or  requiring  further  thought  or  illustration. 
These  marks  will  enable  you  to  refresh  your  recol- 
lection of  any  book  of  the  Bible  in  a  very  short  space 

:  of  time.  In  my  Bible  the  letters  T  mark  passages 
most  suitable  for  the  text  of  a  sermon,  or  for  a  rule 

^  of  daily  conduct.     Q  marks  a  difficulty,  for  further 

'  consideration  or  inquiry.  When  any  new  commen- 
tary falls  in  my  way,  I  can  at  once  test  its  value  by 

'passages  of  real  difficulty.  Again,  Art.  1,  2,  or  3, 
denotes  that  averse  contains  a  very  plain  proof  of  one 
of  the  Thirty-nine  Articles.  Ch.  denotes  an  argu- 
ment in  support  of  an  Establishment. 

It  is  advisable,  every  time  you  read  a  book  of  Scrip- 
ture, to  propose  one  subject  for  particular  attention. 
Read  the  Gospels,  once  to  see  wherein  they  agree 
I  and  wherein  they  differ,  and  mark  M.  Mk.  L.  J.  or 
any  one  or  more  of  these  initials  according  as  St.  Mat- 
thew, Mark,  Luke,  or  John  have  also  mentioned  any 
parable,  miracle,  or  other  memorable  part  of  our  Lord's 

'\  history  occurring  in  the  Gospel  before  you.  Read 
them  a  second  time  for  infernal   evidence  of  their 

I  truth.  A  third  time  with  a  Diatessaron  to  mark  the 
order  of  events,  or  any  other  matter  of  instruction. 

'  To  those  fond  of  literature,  the  Scriptures  will  have 
also  another  and  a  wholly  different  value,  for  literary 
and  secular  purposes.  For  the  Bible  is  allowed  to  be 
the  most  curious  book  in  the  world.  It  contains  more 
knowledge  of  life  and  of  the  human  heart  than  all  the 
writings  of  Shakspeare,  Horace,  Clarendon,  Thucy- 
dides,  and  as  many  others  as  we  please  to  mention. 
It  comprises  all  that  was  discovered,  and  much  more 

'\  that  was  overlooked,  by  the  moral  philosophers  of 

■  ancient  and  modern  times.     And  the  proof  is  this: — 
'    Butler  may  be  said  lo  have  been  the  corrector  of  the 

ancient  ethical  writers.     Mackintosh,   Robert  Hall, 
and  Dr.  Chalmers,  no  inconsiderable  writers  of  mo- 

■  dern  times,  acknowledge  that  they  were  taught  by 
.   Butler,  and  Butler  pretends  only  to  have  been  tauglit 

by  Scripture.     Well  then  might  the  Rev.  H.  Melville 

;.  say,  "  It  is  a  truth  made  known  to  us  by  God,  and  at 

the  same  time  demonstrable  by  reason,  that  in  going 

through  the  courses  of  Bible  instruction,  there  is  a 

'    better  mental  discipline,  whether  for  the  child  or  for 

',   the  adult,  than  in  any  of  the  cleverly  devised  methods 

for  opening  and  strengthening  the  faculties." 

It  is  advisable,  however,  to  bear  in  mind  when  we 

take  up  the  Scriptures  to  gather  the  precious  seed,  and 

when  to  examine  the  husk — when  to  read  the  Word 

and  when  the  letter ;  and  since  it  is  allowable  in  a 

proper  spirit  to  improve  the  mind  as  well  as  the  heart, 

and  since  ignorance  of  the  Scriptures,  in  the  present 

i   state  of  society,  is  happily  accounted  a  disgrace,  no 

•    less  to  the  scholar  than  the  man  ;  it  is  convenient  for 

.    literary  purposes  to  keep  a  separate  copy,  in  which  to 

enter  observations,  as  we  read  of  Oriental  customs, 

Jewish  antiquities.  Natural  history  of  the  Bible,  or 

any  thing  else  illustrative  of  Scripture.     To  show  the 

■  interest  and  the  great  satisfaction  which  may  arise 
,  from  being  thus  attentive  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge, 
'    I  will  select  from  one  of  my  own  Bibles  a  few  notes, 

which,  without  the  method  I  recommend,  might  pass 
;    unheeded  through  the  mind. 

At  Gen.  vi.  15.  "  The  length,  depth,  and  width  of 


the  '  Great  Britain'  steam-ship  is  in  feet  exactly  what 
the  Ark  was  in  cubits  I" 

Acts  xxviii.  1.  Melita,  certainly  not  Malta,  but  an 
island  in  the  Adriatic  called  Melite,  where  there  are 
snakes,  though  in  Malta  there  are  none,  and  of  which 
the  people  were  in  St.  Paul's  day  barbarous,  but  at 
Malta  civilized.  Besides,  Malta  is  not  in  ^dn'a,  though 
Melite  is.— Coleridge's  Table  Talk. 

Acts  xxviii.  13.  "  Fetched  a  compass.  A  friend,  in 
making  the  same  voyage  from  Syracuse  to  Rhegium 
recently,  observed  that  a  considerable  sailing  round, 
as  the  Greek  means  literally,  was  unavoidable. 

Gen.  viii.  9.  The  dove.  Dr.  Meuse  says  that  the 
N.  American  Indians  have  a  tradition  oiabig canoein 
which  came  eight  persons  across  the  water  caused  by 
the  Great  Spirit.  They  hold  the  willow  sacred,  be- 
cause a  dove  flew  with  it  from  the  canoe. 

John  i.  1.  At  Otaheite,  the  names  of  the  superior 
deities  are  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Friend  Bird, 
which  inspires  the  priests. — Serle's  Horce  Solilarim. 

Job  xxix.  This  chapter  moved  Sir  J.  Mackintosh 
to  tears  on  his  death-bed. 

These  instances  will  exemplify  my  meaning. 

Again,  the  poetry  of  the  Bible  and  the  beauties  of 
natural  and  simple  diction  deserve  attention.  To  com- 
mit them  to  memory  is  the  best  exercise  for  the  im- 
provement of  taste.  Wordsworth  once  remarked  that 
he  knew  no  poetry  finer  than  that  of  Jeremiah.  Mrs. 
Hemans  preferred  St.  John  to  the  other  Evangelists. 
Coleridge  considered  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans  the 
finest  of  St.  Paul's  compositions.  These  are  hints  for 
the  exercise  of  criticism.  Again,  whenever  you  read, 
compare  scripture  with  scripture.  Commentaries  at 
best  are  only  like  advisers,  who  may  assist  for  the 
moment,  but  never  yet  made  any  man  jvise.  While 
you  trust  to  commentators  you  will  never  gain  the  full 
use  of  the  faculties  which  God  has  given  you  ;  nor 
indeed  can  you  hope  to  enjoy  any  thing  better  than  a 
flat,  insipid,  spiritless  dilution  of  scriptural  truth.  With 
respect  to  the  difficulties  of  holy  writ,  either  they  can 
be  solved  in  an  obvious  and  satisfactory  way  or  they 
cannot.  If  they  can,  a  person  of  ordinary  understand- 
ing, by  examining  the  context  and  seeking  ihniiar  ex- 
pressions, may  solve  the  difficulties  as  well  as  any 
commentator  ;  if  they  cannot,  the  opinions  of  commen- 
tators, though  sometimes  instructive,  are  frequently 
of  little  use,  differing  widely  from  each  other,  being 
enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  words,  and  more  fanciful  than 
reasonable.  On  these  grounds  I  maintain  that  one 
hour's  study  with  references  is  worth  ten  with  notes. 
Compare  verse  with  verse,  and  let  your  maxim  be 
"  Every  reader  his  own  commentator." 

Learn  by  heart  one  verse  of  the  Bible  every  day. 
One  of  my  friends  takes  the  first  verse  which  meets 
his  eye  as  the  Bible  happens  to  open.  A  better  plan 
is  to  mark  the  verses  you  prefer  in  several  books,  and 
learn  them  in  order.  If  you  are  not  contented  with 
one,  choose  a  second  or  a  third  from  a  different  part ; 
but  do  not  impose  too  much  upon  yourself  at  first. 
The  great  thing  is  never  to  omit  one  verse  each  day. 
Do  not  despise  the  importance  of  this  method,  still  less 
the  self-command  which  constancy  in  its  performance 
requires.  I  warn  you  that  it  is  not  very  easy  so  to 
learn  365  verses  in  the  year  without  being  once  in 
arrears.  If  you  miss  a  day  do  not  allow  yourself  to 
make  it  up  ;  but  let  the  inequality  between  the  number 
of  verses  and  of  days  continue  as  a  punishment.  Per- 
severance and  regularity  will  insure  such  a  knowledge 
of  the  more  familiar  texts  of  Scripture  as  experience 
alone  can  render  credible.  But  remember  that  all 
depends  on  the  regularity  and  uninterrupted  habit. 
Mark  the  30  or  31  verses  on  the  first  day  of  each 
month,  and  consider  you  have  failed  unless  the  number 
of  the  day  and  of  the  verse  are  the  same.  The  Hebrew 
or  Greek  version  is  of  course  to  be  preferred  by 
scholars  ;  still  none  should  omit  the  English. 

One  of  my  friends,  a  young  lady,  takes  much  in- 
terest in  writing  out  the  verses  to  which  the  marginal 
references  of  the  Bible  allude.  Her  paper  is  ruled  by 
the  stationer  with  one  vertical  column  about  two  inches 
wide,  for  the  text ;  the  rest  of  the  page  has  horizontal 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


53 


lines.  One  line  also  guards  the  margin  that  ihe  work 
may  in  future  years  admit  of  being  bound.  This  is  a 
much  more  profitable  employment  than  knitting, 
though  ladies  may  be  allowed  to  do  both.  Who 
would  not  be  more  proud  of  a  mother  who  bequeathed 
him  a  commentary  than  a  quilt  ? 

The  Society  for  the  Diflusion  of  Christian  Know- 
ledge has  published  a  prayer-book  with  marginal  re- 
ferences. The  Catechism,  the  Two  Sacraments,  and 
the  Articles  would  be  very  useful  portions  for  such 
illustration.  In  the  last  age  young  ladies  u.sed  to  be 
taught  at  school  to  present  their  mammas  with  a 
sampler ;  if  every  young  lady  and  young  gentleman 
too  were  required  to  produce  a  neat  copy  of  all  the 
scripture  proofs  of  our  liturgy,  it  would  produce  a 
wonderful  extension  of  scriptural  knowledge  of  the 
soundest  kind. 

Another  exercise,  really  invaluable  to  clergymen 
especially,  is  to  make  a  scriptural  common-place  book. 
This  will  require  the  use  of  two  books,  one  as  a  day 
book,  another  as  a  ledger.  The  day  book  must  be 
always  at  hand  as  you  read  the  Bible  from  end  to  end. 
In  this  you  will  write  down  promiscuously  any  illus- 
tration of  the  divine  attributes,  faith,  justification,  types, 
prophecies,  and  innumerable  other  topics,  as  you 
please.  Then  in  your  ledger  you  will  enter  each  of 
these  under  its  proper  head,  which  you  will  also  notice 
with  the  number  of  the  page  in  the  index.  A  small 
work  of  this  kind  has  been  pubhshed  by  Chalmers. 

Lastly,  attend  particularly  to  the  style,  dates,  and 
proofs  of  the  genuineness  and  authenticity  of  the 
several  books  of  Scripture  ;  and  read  the  history  of  the 
different  translations.  For  this  purpose  Gray's  or 
Percy's  "Key,"  Tomline,  or  Home's  "  Introduc- 
tion," will  be  serviceable. 

2.   WORKS    OF    COMMENTARY    AND 
NOTES. 

We  will  now  consider  some  of  the  many  valuable 
works  which  have  been  written  to  explain  the  several 
books  or  parts  of  Scripture  respectively. 

First.  On  the  whole  of  the  Bible  it  will  be  enough 
to  mention 

Home's  "Introduction,"  which  contains  informa- 
tion so  varied,  that  few  persons  can  require  more. 
And  here  I  remind  my  readers  that  this  work  con- 
tains further  instructions  on  Theological  reading. 

The  "  Epitome  of  Home's  Introduction,"  (1  vol.,) 
and 

"  Key  to  the  Bible,"  by  the  Society,  will  be  useful 
for  those  who  have  little  time  for  study. 

"A  Critical  Commentary  and  Paraphrase  on  the 
Old  and  New  Testament  and  Apocrypha,"  by  Pa- 
trick, Lowth,  Arnald,  Whitby,  and  Lownian.' 

The  Commentaries  on  the  Bible  by  Mant,  Scott, 
Clarke,  and  others,  are  well  known. 

Secondly.  On  the  Old  Te.itament,  Gray's  "Key" 
is  very  valuable.  That  of  Tomline  is  also  useful. 
Bishop  Horsley's  Biblical  Criticism"  is  highly  es- 
teemed by  the  few  who  know  it.  A  new  edition  is 
now  advertised  in  a  more  convenient  form. 

Thirdly.  On  separate  portions  and  subjects  of 
Scripture. 

On  the  Pentateuch,  Graves's  "Lectures"  display 
much  useful  learning. 

The  "Horae  Mosaicag,"  by  G.  S.  Faber,  1818,  is 
much  admired  for  scriptural  learning  and  truth. 

Warburton's  "  Divine  Legation"  is  one  of  the  stan- 
dard pieces  of  English  literature. 

On  the  Prophecies  generally,  read  Sir  I.  Newton 
and  Davidson's  "Discourses  upon  Prophecy,"  also 
Keith. 

On  the  minor  Prophets  only.  Bishop  Newcome  and 
George  Hutcheson  (1675)  have  written.     The  first  is 

'  A  Critical  Commentary  and  Paraphrase  on 
THE  Old  and  New  Testament  and  Apocrypha, 
by  Patrick,  Lowth,  Arnald,  Whitby,  and  Lowman, 
a  new  edition,  with  the  text  printed  at  large,  4  vols. 
Carey  &.  Hart,  Phila.,  Wiley  &  Putnam,  N.  York. 
Price  Sl6. 


termed    "critical  and  useful,"   the   second  "pithy, 
full,  and  spiritual." 

On  the  historical  parts ,  read  "  History  of  the  Bible," 
and  "History  of  the  Jews."  Also  a  most  useful 
analysis  given  at  the  end  of  Mant's  Bible. 

On  the  whole  of  the  New  Testament,  Percy's  "  Key 
to  the  New  Tesiameni"  is  very  popular.  "Para- 
phrase of  the  New  Testament,"  by  Richard  Baxter, 
8vo,  1810,  is  said  to  be  a  book  "of  much  piety  and 
good  sense,  but  very  brief."  All  commentaries  will 
naturally  be  brief,  when  the  author  means  rather  to 
solve  than  evade  difficulties. 

Doddridge's  "Family  Expositor."  Every  work 
must  be  valuable  by  the  author  of  the  "  Rise  and 
Progress;"  of  whom  a  writer  in  the  "Edinburgh 
Review"  truly  said  that  "no  man  on  earth  more 
I  breathed  the  atmosphere  of  heaven.  He  writes  like 
a  man  of  open  and  honest  mind ;  every  page  bears 
the  stamp  of  truth." 

On  the  Four  Gospels.  Campbell's  "Four  Gospels 
translated"  is  a  valuable  critical  work.     Read  also 

Elsley's  "Annotations  on  the  Four  Gospels  and 
Acts  of  the  Apostles." 

Bishop  J.  B.  Sumner's  "  Practical  Expositions  on 
the  Gospels  of  Matthew  and  Mark." 

The  English  "  Diatessaron"  is  useful  to  mark  the 
order  of  events. 

On  the  Miracles,  read  Campbell's  work. 

O71  the  Epistles  of  St.  Paul,  Paley's  "  Horse  Pau- 
linae"  will  never  be  superseded. 

Shuttleworth's  "  Paraphrase  of  the  Epistles"  iethe 
most  concise  and  generally  useful  commentary. 

Oti  St.  Peter,  Leighton's  book  is  one  of  the  first 
of  Scripture  classics. 

It  will  be  of  no  real  use  to  proceed  with  a  list  of 
the  commentators  of  each  separate  book  of  the  Bible; 
because  every  one  who  has  read  half  of  the  works 
already  mentioned,  must  have  risen  above  the  rank 
of  those  I  presume  to  instruct.  I  must  refer  to  Mr. 
Bickersteth's  "  Christian  Student,"  which  contains 
a  classification  of  the  booksellers'  theological  cata- 
logues, with  remarks. 

On  Biblical  Antiquities.  Many  works  combine 
entertainment  with  instruction  ;  such  as 

Jenning's  "  Jewish  Antiquhies." 

Lightfoot's  works,  chiefly  on  the  same  subject. 

Shuckford's  "  Sacred  and  profane  History  con- 
nected." 

Prideaux's  "Connection  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament." 

Harris's  "  Natural  History  of  the  Bible." 

Burder's  "  Oriental  Customs  and  Literature." 

Calcott's  "  Scripture  Herbal." 

Townley's  "Illustrations  of  Biblical  Literature." 

Carpenter's  "Scripture  Natural  History,  or  an 
Account  of  the  Zoology,  Botany,  and  Geology  of  the 
Bible. 

AH  of  these  works  are  highly  valued.  Those  of 
Lightfoot,  Shuckford,  and  Prideaux  are  standard 
classics.  The  last  six,  though  not  less  improving,  may 
be  termed  light  reading,  and  give  agreeable  relief  to 
severer  studies. 


3.  ON  DOCTRINE. 

Of  the  Person  and  Offices  of  Christ.  Home  re- 
commends "Stuart's  Letters  to  Dr.  Channing"  as 
admirably  depicting  the  subtle  criticisms  of  an  accom- 
plished Unitarian,  in  a  fine  spirit  of  Christian  philoso- 
phy. Mr.  Bickersteth  mentions  Gumey's  "  Biblical 
Notes  to  confirm  the  Deity  of  Christ,"  as  a  very  solid, 
able,  and  profitable  illustration  of  texts  of  Scripture. 

On  the  Offices  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Serle's  "Horae 
Solitariae"  exhausts  the  subject.  In  his  chapter  on 
the  Trinity,  he  has  availed  himself  of  his  extensive 
classical  learning.  Heber's  "  Bampton  Lectures" 
are  on  the  Holy  Ghost  as  a  comforter.  Of  Dr.  Bur- 
ton's Sermons,  two  treat  of  the  sin  of  blasphemy 
against  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  a  very  sound  and  con- 
sistent manner. 

On  the  Trinity.  Serle's  Essay,  above  mentioned, 
e2 


54 


A  COURSE   OF  ENGLISH   READING. 


and  Home's  "Scripture  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity;" 
also  sermons  and  worlds  too  obvious  to  mention. 

On  Election  and  Fredesti nation.  There  arc  some 
very  fair  and  reasonable  remarks  in  "  Christ  our  Ex- 
ample." Bishop  Tomline's  "  Refutation  of  Calvin- 
ism," gives  all  that  can  be  said  on  one  side,  and  Tho- 
mas Scott's  "  Remarks  on  Bishop  Tomline's  '  Refu- 
tation,' "  on  the  other.  Read  the  17;h  Article  of  the 
Church,  in  Burnet.  Copleslon  on  "  Necessity  and 
Predestination,"  alludes  to  Scott,  and  terms  him  the 
most  pious  and  temperate  of  modern  Calvinists, 
though  his  doctrine  of  predestination,  he  says,  "ap- 
pears to  me  mistaken  and  dangerous."  The  Rev. 
J.  Scott,  in  the  life  of  his  father,  shows  that  he  was 
very  cautious  of  bringing  this  doctrine  before  a  mixed 
congregation,  and  once  observed  of  Wilberforce's 
book,  that  it  was  not  Calvinistic,  and  so  much  the 
better,  being  more  suited  to  the  class  of  persons  to 
whom  it  was  addressed.  In  studying  this  doctrine, 
we  should  consider  whether  authors  do  not  dispute 
about  a  word,  while  they  agree  about  the  thing. 

On  Faith  and  J  unification,  read  Bishop  Barlow's 
"  Two  Letters  on  Justification."  Of  this  it  was  said 
by  Archdeacon  Browne,  "  The  subject  is  treated  with 
a  degree  of  closeness  of  reasoning  and  logical  accu- 
racy, which  defies  confutation."  Also  Burnet's  11th 
Article. 

On  Baptism.  The  sentiments  of  the  writers  of 
the  first  four  centuries,  are  given  in  Wall's  "His- 
tory of  Infant  Baptism."  There  is  also  a  well  known 
treatise  on  Baptism  by  Matthew  Henry,  and  nume- 
rous sermons  and  essays  both  before  and  since.  Read 
especially  Burnet  on  the  27th  Article. 

On  the  Lord's  Supper.  Burnet  on  the  Articles  25, 
26,  28,  29,  30. 

4.  READING  FOR  CONTROVERTISTS. 

First,  Against  Infidelity.  On  the  evidences  of 
Christianity,  the  following  books,  some  simple,  some 
abstruse,  comprise  answers  to  every  possible  objec- 
tion. 

Paley's  "Evidences  of  Christianity,"  I  have  al- 
ready mentioned.  Almost  the  whole  is  easily  intel- 
ligible, and  many  chapters  so  interesting  as  to  require 
but  little  effort.  It  is  universally  allowed  to  be  one 
of  the  first  argumentative  works  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

Paley's  "Horse  Paulinae,"  is  also  considered  very 
convincing,  as  well  as  one  of  the  best  commenta- 
ries on  the  Epistles.  With  this  we  may  class  Keith 
on  the  Prophecies,  and  the  works  of  Bishops 
Hurd  and  Newton;  as  also  Campbell  on  the  Mira- 
cles. All  of  these  combine  explanation  with  argu- 
ment. 

Shuttle  worth's  "  Consistency  of  Revelation  with 
Human  Reason,"  I  have  always  considered  especially 
valuable,  because  it  meets  the  very  difficuhies  which 
are  most  hkely  to  occur  to  men  of  fair  mind,  honestly 
open  to  conviction.     With  this  book  I  should  class. 

First,  "  Graves  on  the  Pentateuch,"  a  very  learned 
work,  yet  easy  to  understand.  Few  books  should  be 
chosen  before  this ;  it  contains  facts  and  reflections 
which  are  highly  necessary  to  be  known,  though  very 
unlikely  to  be  found  in  common  authors  ;  and. 

Secondly,  "Watson's  Apology  for  the  Bible,"  of 
which  George  II.  is  said  to  have  observed,  he  did  not 
know  that  the  Bible  needed  any  apology,  not  con- 
sidering that  Justin  Martyr  and  others  of  the  early 
Christians  used  to  set  forth  defences  of  the  Gospel 
under  the  name  of  Apologia,  which,  in  Greek, 
means  a  defence.  Watson  and  Graves  wrote  in 
answer  to  the  cavils  of  Paine  and  other  infidels  of  the 
French  Revolution.  M'llvaine's  "  Lectures  on  Evi- 
dences," gives  an  account  of  the  death  of  Paine, 
which,  if  well  known,  would  be  the  best  antidote  to 
the  poison  of  his  life ;  it  is  an  intelligible  selection 
from  Paley  and  others,  containing  but  little  original 
matter. 

Of  Butler's  "Analogy,"  I  knew  one  who  said  he 
always  doubted  till  he  read  it,  and  never  doubted 


after.  The  reasoning  is  too  deep  for  many  readers, 
yet  I  would  have  all  give  it  a  trial.  I  have  known 
cases  in  wiiich  it  has  been  comprehended  by  those 
who  had  the  greatest  diffidence  in  attempting  it. 

Gregory's  "Letters  are  much  recommended,  as 
giving  a  plain  and  easy  exposition  of  difficuhies. 

Sumner's  "  Evidences,"  -i 

Lardner's  "  Credibility,"  | 

Gibson's  "  Pastoral  Letters,"  " 

Jenkins's  "  Reasonableness,"  and 
Stillingfleet's  "  Origines  Sacrce,"  are  all  works  of 
authority. 

Paley  and  Butler,  if  well  read  and  digested,  nearly 
exhaust  the  subject.  Butler  shows  that  there  is  no 
reason  why  we  should  not  believe,  and  Paley  that 
there  is  much  reason  why  we  should.  Shuttleworth 
is  the  best  substitute  for  Butler.  The  value  of  the 
"  Analogy"  cannot  be  fully  appreciated  without  con- 
sidering the  urgency  of  the  times  in  which  it  was 
written.  Butler  observes,  "It  comes,  I  know  not 
how,  to  be  taken  for  granted,  that  Christianity  is  now 
at  length  discovered  to  be  fictitious."  Horace  Wal- 
pole  said,  that  Queen  Caroline  particularly  recom- 
mended his  father  to  read  it;  indeed,  it  was  wanted 
in  high  life,  for  Lady  Montague,  even  while  she  ex- 
presses her  alarm  at  so  many  young  ladies  being  infi- 
dels, speaks  in  a  way  which  shows  she  regarded  reli- 
gion as  rather  useful  than  true. 

Robert  Hall's  sermon  on  "  Modern  Infidelhy,"  is 
very  celebrated.  This  is  a  masterly  composition, 
showing  enlarged  and  comprehensive  views. 

Secondly,  In  Co7ilroversy  with  Jews,  Bishop  Kid- 
der's "  Demonstration  of  the  Messiah,"  and  Thomas 
Scott's  "  Discussion  on  the  principal  Question  be- 
tween the  Jews  and  Christians,"  in  reply  to  the  Rab- 
bi Crool.  Of  course  all  other  works  on  evidences 
will  he  of  much  service,  but  Scott's  reply  to  the  Rab- 
bi's "  Restoration  of  Israel"  teaches  us  to  avail  our- 
selves of  every  advantage  which  the  faith  of  a  Jew- 
ish adversary  affords,  and  "  discuss  every  important 
question  concerning  the  Messiah  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, on  the  ground  of  the  Old  Testament  only." 

Thirdly,  Against  Popery,  Finch's  "Sketch  of  the 
Roman  Controversy"  is  said  to  contain  a  valuable 
collection  of  documents  from  many  sources. 

Dp.  Marsh's  "  Comparative  View  of  the  Churches 
of  England  and  Rome." 

M' Ghee's  "  Truth  and  Error  contrasted." 
Pascal's  "  Provincial  Letters,"  affords  the  most 
witty  and  keen  exposure  of  the  Jesuits.  Both  for  the 
briUiancy  of  composition,  and  the  influence  they 
exerted,  these  letters  hold  the  highest  place  in  the 
history  of  literature. 

Besides  these,  numerous  works  have  been  written 
in  the  form  of  sermons,  and  notes  of  particular  con- 
troversies, as  well  as  histories,  digests,  and  replies, 
which  a  bookseller's  catalogue  will  point  out. 

Fourthly,  Against  Arianism,  read  Whittaker's 
"History  of  Arianism  ;"  Burnet's  "Articles,''  and 
the  works  which  are  recommended  on  the  'Trinity. 
This  course  of  reading  will  apply  also 

Fifthly,  Against  Socinianism ;  read  also  J.  Ed- 
wards's "  Preservative  against  Socinianism  ;"  Ward- 
law's  "  Discourses  on  the  principal  Points  of  the  So- 
cinian  Controversy  ;"  and  Fuller's  "Calvinistic  and 
Socinian  Systems  compared." 

Sixthly,  Against  Disse7iters  from  the  Established 
Church. 

The  great  champion  of  the  Established  Church  is 
Hooker.  His  "  Ecclesias'tical  Polity,"  like  the  writ- 
ings of  most  men  of  true  genius,  is  calculated  to 
enrich  and  expand  the  reader's  views  on  a  variety  of 
subjects.  But  Hooker  is  too  grave  a  writer  for  the 
youthful  student.  Thelvvall's  "Letters  (one  duode- 
cimo) on  the  Church,"  explain  in  a  clear  and  familiar 
way,  the  nature  of  the  Establishment,  the  excellence 
of  oiir  liturgy,  and  the  importance  of  a  national 
church.  Boyd  on  "  Episcopacy,"  enters  more  deeply 
into  the  origin  and  authority  of  our  Church.  To  those 
who  have  not  time  to  read  Mr.  Boyd's  larger  work,  I 
would  strongly  recommend  his  "  Lectures  on  Epis- 


A   COURSE   OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


55 


copacy,"  delivered  at  Cheltenham.  l\Ir.  Thelwall 
recommends  M'Neile's  "Letters  on  the  Church;" 
also  the  Rev.  A.  M'Caul's  three  sermons  on  "  The 
Divine  Commission  of  the  Christian  Ministry,"  and 
the  "  Principles  of  a  Church  Establishment."  To 
the  general  reader,  a  truly  valuable  work  is  "  Essays 
on  tlie  Church,"  by  a  layman.  This  author  modestly 
pretends  to  be  only  a  compiler,  who  having  read  ail 
the  pamphlets  for  or  against  the  dissenters,  which  ap- 
peared about  the  year  1833,  endeavoured  to  bring  the 
whole  argument  within  the  compass  of  one  small 
volume.  Chalmers's  Sermons  should  also  be  read  ; 
also  an  article  in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  vol.  xxvi. 
From  Dr.  Dwighl's  "  Travels  in  New  England  and 
New  York,"  we  learn  how  little  the  "  case  of  Ameri- 
ca" proves  against  an  establishment;  an  extract  is 
given  in  "  Essays  on  the  Church." 

5.  THE   PRINCIPAL  Vv^RITERS   ON 
DIVINITY. 

A  mere  list  of  authors  will  seem  of  little  use  ;  but 
my  object  is  to  induce  the  student  to  follow  some 
method  in  his  selection  ;  to  read  writers  of  the  same 
period  at  the  same  time,  in  order  to  learn  the  peculiar 
character  and  style  of  each  school,  so  to  speak,  of 
divinity.  It  is  useful  also  to  compare  the  changes  in 
theological  writing  with  those  of  other  branches  of 
literature.  The  different  styles  of  composition  may 
also  be  noticed,  and  more  particularly  the  change 
from  the  weighty  to  the  wordy  style  with  smooth 
sounds  instead  of  hard  sense. 

The  following  classification  of  Divines  is  that 
adopted  by  the  Rev.  E.  Bickersteth  in  his  "  Christian 
Student,"  first  pubHshed  in  1829.  This  is  a  valuable 
guide  in  Divinity  studies.  Of  course  since  its  publi- 
cation many  works  have  appeared  deserving  of  notice  ; 
and  not  a  few  have  been  rendered  available  by  trans- 
lations, selections,  and  reprinting. 

The  number  of  volumes  of  a  serious  character  read 
by  some  persons,  in  the  course  of  a  year,  is  so  great 
that  if,  instead  of  mere  casual  recommendation,  they 
would  be  guided  by  the  following  lists  of  writers,  they 
might  soon  gain  a  very  comprehensive  knowledge  of 
Theology. 

First.  The  Fathers.  Dr.  Chalmers  fairly  says, 
"  We  ought  not  to  cast  the  Book  of  Antiquity  away 
from  us,  but  give  it  our  most  assiduous  perusal,  while 
at  the  same  time  we  sit  in  the  exercise  of  our  free  and 
independent  judgment  over  its  contents."  The  writings 
of  many  of  the  Fathers  are  now  accessible  by  means 
of  English  translations.  Still  the  remembrance  of  all 
the  tales  of  pale  students,  dusty  folios,  and  the  mid- 
night lamp  in  monastic  cells,  which  used  to  be  asso- 
ciated with  the  very  names  of  the  Fathers,  has  not 
quite  passed  away  ;  and  therefore  I  am  not  sanguine 
that  many  will  be  persuaded  even  to  open  one  of  These 
awe-inspiring  volumes,  should  it  fall  in  their  way:  nor 
can  I  be  disappointed  if  some  cannot  be  induced  to 
read  first  and  judge  afterwards. 

As  to  another  class  of  persons  who  do  not  hesitate 
to  avow  an  utter  indifference  to  the  writings  of  the 
Fathers,  I  have  only  to  say  that  to  feel  no  curiosity 
about  the  compositions  of  men  who  were  the  first  and 
foremost  of  Christian  champions  in  times  the  most 
critical  to  the  faith,  and  who  have  bequeathed  to  us 
the  readiest  weapons  against  the  skeptics  of  our  own 
time& — to  care  nothing  about  Justin  IMartyr,  Tertullian, 
Cyprian,  Chrysostom,  Athanasius,  Augustine — to  feel 
no  curiosity  about  the  works  of  those  who,  like  Jerome 
and  Origen,  have  done  much  to  restore  and  preserve 
the  pure  text  of  Scripture,  this  certainly  betrays  a 
feeling  hard  indeed  to  reconcile  wiih  a  due  sense  of 
our  Gospel  privileges.  "It  is  difficult  indeed  to  be 
insensible,"  says  Mr.  Conybeare.  in  his  Lectures,  "  to 
the  beauty,  the  piety,  the  devotion,  and  the  spiritual 
feeling  which  are  found  in  almost  every  page  of  the 
Commentary  of  Augustine."  In  short,  if  any  person 
doubt  that  the  works  of  the  Fathers  have  a  real  a|)pre- 
ciable  value,  founded  not  in  the  mere  curiosities  of 
ancient  literature,  but  on  good  and  useful  service  done. 


let  him  read  the  "Evidences"  of  Paley,  and  then 
consider,  first,  whether  his  leading  arguments  could  be 
maintained  without  the  testimony  so  largely  derived 
from  the  Fathers;  and  secondly,  whether  ihcsu  argu- 
ments are  not  indispensable  to  the  delencc  oi  Cliris- 
tianity  upon  external  evidence.  The  reason  I  instance 
Palcy's  work  in  preference  to  any  other  evidences  is, 
that  its  style  and  way  of  reasoning  is  of  a  most  popular 
kind,  and  while  many  other  works  may  confirm  those 
who  believe,  Paley  is  convincing  to  those  v.lio  doubt. 
It  is  related  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  that,  on  hear- 
ing one  of  his  officers  speak  lightly  of  Revelation,  he 
asked  him,  "  Did  you  ever  read  Paley?"  "No." 
"  'i'hen  you  are  not  qualified  to  give  an  opinion." 

The    translations    to   which    I    alluded   form    the 
"Library   of    the    Fathers   of   the    Holy    Catholic 
Church,"  published  by  the    Oxford    Tract    party. 
Already  soine  of  the  works  of  St.  Augustine,  Cyril, 
Cyprian,    Chrysostom,    Athanasius,    and    Tertullian 
have  appeared.     Also  in   "  The  Christian's  Family 
Library"  there  is  one  volume,  entitled  "  The  Chris- 
tian Fathers  of  the  First  and  Second  Century  ;    their 
Principal  Remains  at  large  ;  with  selections  from  their 
other  Writings."     Milner  and  Mosheim  may  lioili  be 
consulted  for  the  general  character  of  the  Fathers. 
Also  Home's"  Introduction."    Conybeare's  "  Bamp- 
ton  Lectures,"  above  mentioned,  contain  "An  Ana- 
lytical Examination  into  the  character,  value,  and  just     j 
application  of  the  Writings  of  the  Christian  Fathers,    i 
during  the  Ante-Nicene  Period."     Dr.  Burton  also    } 
published  "  Testimonies  of  the  Ante-Nicene  Fathers    J- 
to  the  Divinity  of  Christ."  J 

In  the  works  of  N.  Lardner  (a  Socinian  writer)  we 
have  a  careful  examination  of  the  testimony  which  the 
fathers  have  afibrded  to  the  Scriptures.     Dr.  Clarke's 
"  Succession  of  Sacred  Literature,"  with  his  "Bib-    j 
liographical  Miscellany,"  and  more  particularly  Cave's    t 
"  Lives  of  the  Fathers  of  the  First  Four  Ages  of  the    " 
Church,"  are  books  of  high  authority. 

SeconrJIy.  The  Schoolmen.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Reformation,  a  monk  declared  that  Greek  was  i 
"  the  mother  of  all  heresy,"  and  that  as  to  Hebrew,  J 
"  it  is  certain  that  all  who  learn  it  become  instantly 
Jews."  For  this  abhorrence  of  learning  we  must 
blame  the  abuse  of  ii  by  the  schoolmen,  of  whom 
Luther  said,  "  they  did  nothing  but  propose  paradoxes, 
and  that  their  whole  art  was  built  on  a  contempt  of 
Scripture."  The  best  advice  I  can  offer  the  general 
reader  is  conveyed  in  the  words  of  Leighton,  "  To 
understand  and  be  master  of  those  trifling  disputes  that 
pr(;vail  in  the  schools,  is  an  evidence  of  a  very  mean 
understanding."  Bonaventura,  Aquinas,  Bradwar- 
dine,  Wickliffe,  Huss,  and  Jerome,  are  the  names  of 
the  principal  schoolmen ;  the  life  and  opinions  of  Wick- 
liffe have  been  written  by  Mr.  Vaughan.  "  Estius's 
Sum,"  says  Mr.  Bickersteth,  "is  considered  to  con- 
tain the  best  account  of  the  Scholastic  Divinity." 

Tliinlhi.  The  Reformeks.  Tindal,  Latimer,  Cran- 
mer,  Ridley,  and  Philpot,  Bradford,  Jewell,  Fox, 
Knox,  are  the  writers  whose  lives  and  opinions  are 
most  worthy  of  attention.  A  work  in  twelve  volumes, 
by  the  Religious  Tract  Society,  gives  selections  front 
their  works,  as  well  as  from  those  of  Bale,  Barnes, 
Becon,  Bilney,  Borthwick,  Clement,  Frith,  Gilby, 
Lady  J.  Grey,  Hamilton,  Hooper,  Joye,  Lambert, 
Queen  Parr.  Ponet,  Rogers,  Sampson,  Saunders, 
Taylor,  Wicklifle,  and  Wishart.  More  matter  of  the 
same  kind  will  be  found  inLegh  Richmond's  "Fathers 
of  the  English  Church,"  and  in  Bickersteth's  "  Testi- 
mony of  the  Reformers."  Mr.  Le  Bas,  Principal  of 
the  E.  I.  College,  has  written  the  lives  of  Cranmer. 
Wickliffe,  Jewell,  and  Laud.  The  "English  Mar- 
tyrology,"  aliridged  from  Foxe,  by  Charlotte  Eliza- 
beth, a  most  able  writer,  forms  two  small  volumes  in 
"The  Christian's  Family  Library." 

Of  the  Foreign  Reformers,  Luther,  IMelancthon, 
Erasmus,  Calvin.  Zuinglius,  CEcolampadius,  iMartyr, 
Bucer,  Beza,  Buliinger,  are  men  with  whom,  either 
by  biography  (especially  D'Aubigiie's),  or  extracts,  we 
have  many  opportunities  of  becoming  acquainted. 


56 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING, 


Fourthly,  The  Soccessoks  of  the  Reformek?. 
Of  these  tlie  principal  writers  are, 

Hooker,  whose  "  Ecclesiastical  Polity"  is  univcr- 
sall}'  allowed  to  be  the  strongest  bulwark  of  the  esta- 
blished church.  In  this  work  there  is  a  wonderful 
•weif'ht  of  words,  a  most  appropriate  selection  of  topics 
and  cogent  reasoning.  This  author  is  usually  quoted 
as  "  the  Judicious  Hooker."  His  life,  by  Isaac 
Walton,  i.s  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  biogra- 
phy in  our  language.     He  died  a.  d.  KJOO. 

Richard  Sibbes,  died  about  thirty-five  years  after 
Hooker.  The  "  Bruised  Reed,"  and  "  Soul's  Con- 
flict," are  the  titles  of  two  of  his  best  works. 

Archbishop  Usher,  died  a.  d.  1656.  He  was  called 
by  Dr.  Johnson  "the  great  luminary  of  the  Irish 
church."  He  is  famed  for  having  read  all  the  Fathers. 
Mr.  Bickersteih  mentions  Usher's  "  Answer  to  the 
Jesuit,"  as  one  of  the  best  pieces  against  Romanism. 
.Since  ]\Ir.  Bickersteih's  time.  Usher's  "  Body  of  Di- 
vinity" has  been  published,  in  a  convenient  form,  price 
only  12s.  His  works  complete,  in  a  handsome  iorm, 
fill  IS  vols.,  now  publishing  at  12s.  each.  A  collection 
of  Usher's  letters,  and  his  life,  were  published  by  his 
chaplain.  Dr.  Richard  Parr. 

Dr.  Hammond,  the  chaplain  of  Charles  I.  in  Caris- 
brook  Castle,  wrote  a  paraphase  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Sanderson,  also  attached  to  Charles,  and,  to 
compensate  for  persecution,  elevated  to  the  bishopric 
of  Lincoln  at  the  Restoration,  wrote  "  Nine  Cases  of 
Conscience,"  and  "Discourse  on  the  Church." 

Dr.  I\Iede,  accounted  the  ablest  interpreter  of  ob- 
scure prophecy. 

Jeremy  Taylor,  a  writer  of  great  fertility  and  depth 
of  thought.  His  defence  of  episcopacy  and  the  litur- 
gy were  much  admired  by  Bishop  Heber,  who  thought 
that  in  imagination  and  real  genius,  Taylor  was  be- 
fore either  Hooker  or  Barrow.  Few  writers  have 
been  more  gleaned  by  modern  divines.  His  life  has 
been  written  by  Bonney. 

Bishops  Babington,  Cowper,  Greenham,  and  An- 
drews lived  in  this  period. 

Fifthly,  The  Nonconfokmists,  comprising  all  who 
separated  from  the  liturgy  and  ceremonies  of  the 
Church,  from  the  Reformation  till  modern  times. 
On  this  period,  and  indeed  on  every  other,  "  The 
Christian  Student"  is  strongly  recommended. 

However  deeply  rooted  may  be  our  hatred  of  dis- 
sent, we  must  not  carry  it  so  far  as  to  think  lightly 
of  all  the  writers  of  dissenters,  or  we  shall  lose  some 
of  the  most  valuable  theological  discussions  and  works 
of  practical  piety.  One  anecdote  of  Lord  Burleigh 
deserves  to  be  better  known.  When  some  com- 
plained to  Lord  Burleigh  of  the  liturgy,  and  said  they 
only  wished  its  amendment,  he  told  them  to  make  a 
better  ;  one  class  of  the  complainants  formed  a  new 
one,  like  that  of  Geneva;  another  class  altered  the 
new  one  in  600  particulars  ;  a  third,  quarrelling  about 
the  alteration,  proposed  a  new  model,  and  a  fourth 
dissented  from  all. 

Dr.  Owen,  famed  for  sound  learning  and  judgment. 
His  writings  are  very  numerous,  and  they  are  of  a 
high  Calvinistic  character. 

Baxter.  Read  the  article  on  his  life  and  writings 
in  the  Edinburgh  Magazine,  1S43.  He  was  chaplain 
to  Whalley's  regiment  after  the  battle  of  Naseby. 
He  tried  to  reconcile  Calvinism  with  Arminianism. 
He  wrote  145  treatises,  of  which  four  were  folios, 
seventy-three  quartos,  and  forty-nine  octavos.  He 
wrote  much  in  jail,  under  the  foul  sentence  of  Jef- 
feries. 

Charnock,  famed  for  masculine  style  and  original- 
ity of  thought.  His  "Discourses  on  Providence" 
are  considered  the  best. 

Dr.  Goodwin,  a  favourite  of  Cromwell,  whom  he 
attended  on  his  death-bed.  He  wrote  sermons,  e.x'po- 
sitions,  and  controversial  treatises. 

Howe,  nervous  and  majestic.  Robert  Hall,  said 
Burke,  was  the  best  author  for  earth,  and  Howe  for 
heaven.  His  "Living  Temple"  is  very  celebrated. 
I  would  particularly  recommend  the  work,  published 
among  the  "Sacred  Classics." 


Dr.  Bates,  fluent,  with  beautiful  similitudes. 

Fiavel,  fervent,  touching  the  conscience,  and  mov- 
ing the  feelings. 

Caryl,  ofFiciateJ  with  Dr.  Owen  as  a  minister  to 
Cromwell.  His  "  Commentary  on  Job"  is  in  12 
vols.  4to. 

Dr.  Manton.     See  Neal's  "Puritans." 

Matthew  Pool:  the  "Synopsis  Criticorum,"  in 
5  folios,  was  his  chief  work. 

Sixthly,  The  Divines  of  the  Restoration  and 
Revolution.  This  era  was  marked,  says  Bishop 
Heber  in  his  Life  of  Taylor,  by  a  school  of  literature 
and  composition,  of  all  others  which  this  country  has 
seen,  the  least  favourable  to  genius,  and  the  most  un- 
like that  style  of  thinking  and  expression  which  had 
distinguished  Jeremy  Taylor  and  his  contemporaries. 
What  Augustine  said  of  Cicero  has  been  remarked 
of  more. than  one  of  the  following  writers,  with  re- 
ference to  their  avoiding  Scriptural  terms,  and  not 
sufficiently  enforcing  Cliristian  motives ;  namely, 
"  that  we  cease  to  be  captivated  with  him,  because 
the  name  of  Christ  does  not  occur  in  him." 

Bishop  Burnet.  Read  his  "Articles,"  "Refor- 
mation," and  "  Own  Times." 

Bishop  Reynolds,  very  terse  and  full;  devotional 
and  controversial — a  strong  Calvinist. 

Archbishop  Leighton.  His  Commentary  on  St. 
Peter  has  been  already  mentioned. 

Bishop  Beveridge,  very  learned  in  Oriental  litera- 
ture. He  wrote  on  the  Thirty-nine  Articles.  His 
"  Private  Thoughts"  are  most  known,  and  published 
among  the  "  Sacred  Classics." 

Archbishop  Tillotson.  Locke  considered  Tillotson 
and  Chiilingworth  very  remarkable  for  perspicuity. 
Heber  speaks  of  "  the  dull  good  sense  of  Tillotson." 
He  attended  with  Dr.  Burnet  at  the  execution  of  Lord 
William  Russell.  He  was  accused  of  Socinianism, 
Dr.  Jortin  says,  because,  in  making  some  \;oncessions 
to  the  Socinians,  he  had  brolcen  through  one  ancient 
rule  of  controversy,  "allow  not  an  adversary  either 
common  sense  or  common  honesty."  In  answer  to 
this  charge  he  repubhshed  four  of  his  sermons  "on 
the  Incarnation  and  Divinity."  His  sermons  are  best 
known.  As  to  the  style  in  which  he  wrote,  read 
"  Fitzosborne's  Letters"  by  Melmoth,  who  qualifies 
the  excessive  praise  it  had  long  received. 

Isaac  Barrow  was  so  deep  and  copious  that  Charles 
II.  used  to  call  him  an  unfair  preacher,  because  he 
left  nothing  to  be  said  after  him.  His  sermons  are  a 
mine  of  brilliant  thoughts  and  sterling  arguments. 
He  was  a  great  mathematician,  deemed  second  only 
to  Sir  Isaac  Newton.  His  sermon  on  "  vain  and  idle 
talking"  is  quoted  by  Addison,  as  a  specimen  of  sin- 
gular felicity  of  expression. 

Stillingfleet:  his  writings  against  popery  are  very 
valuable.  The  elegance  and  learning  of  the  "  Origines 
Sacraj"  has  made  it  more  popular.  His  "  Origines 
Biitannicffi"  give  antiquities  of  the  churches  of  Bri- 
tain. He  had  a  controversy  with  Locke,  arising  from 
certain  remarks  made  in  his  "Defence  of  the  Doc- 
trine of  the  Trinity." 

John  Locke  wrote  "on  the  Reasonableness  of 
Christianitv,"  and  Paraphrases  and  Notes  to  several 
of  St.  Paul's  Epistles. 

Robert  South  held  a  controversy  with  Sherlock  on 
the  Trinity.  His  sermons  are  well  known.  His  style 
is  nervous,  with  much  point  and  wit.  His  writings 
are  in  great  repu'e. 

Sherlock  (William,  named  above)  wrote  against 
the  dissenters.  Thomas  Sherlock,  his  son,  wrote  a 
tract  well  w^orth  reading,  called  "  The  Trial  of  the 
Witnesses  of  the  Resurrection." 

Wilson,  Bishop  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  published 
"Ecclesiastical  Constitutions,"  of  which  Lord  Chan- 
cellor King  said,  that  "  if  the  ancient  discipline  of  the 
f^hurch  were  lost,  it  might  be  found  in  the  Isle  of 
Man."     He  wrote  also  sermons  and  tracts. 

William  Law:  his  "Serious  Call  to  a  Religious 
Life"  was  considered  by  Dr.  Johnson  one  of  the  most 
powerful  works  of  the  kind.  His  "  Practical  Trea- 
tise on  Christianity"  is  also  very  good. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH  READING. 


57 


Bishop  Warburton:  his  "  Julian,"  "Alliance  of 
Church  and  State,"  and  "Divine  Legation,"  are 
much  admired.  Read  Dr.  Johnson's  character  of 
Warburton  in  his  "  Life  of  Pope."  It  was  said  that 
Bishop  Bull  was  his  master,  and  Jeremy  Taylor  his 
favourite  divine. 

Bishop  Watson  answered  Paine  and  Gibbon.  His 
"Apology"  has  been  already  mentioned. 

Archbishop  Seeker  wrote  "  Sermons  and  Lectures 
on  the  Church  Catechism." 

Bishop  Berkeley  fell  dead  while  hearing  a  sermon, 
written  by  Dr.  Sherlock.  He  is  more  known  as  a 
philosopher  than  as  a  divine. 

Bishop  Butler,  the  author  of  the  Sermons  and  Ana- 
logy already  mentioned. 

Secondli/,  MoDEKN  Writers. 

T.  H.  Home,  author  of  the  "  Introduction." 

Jonathan  Edwards,  who  wrote  on  "  The  Will." 

Romaine,  author  of  the  most  popular  book  on  Faith. 

Milner,  author  of  the  "  Church  History." 

Jones,  of  Nayland,  deemed  one  of  the  most  satis- 
factory writers  on  the  Trinity. 

Newton,  the  history  of  whose  life  is  universally 
recommended,  as  also  are  his  letters. 

Scott,  the  author  of  the  "  Commentary." 

Robert  Hall,  one  of  the  finest  writers  in  the  En- 
ghsh  language  ;  clear,  candid,  and  very  powerful. 

Bishop  Horsley,  the  author  of  "  Biblical  Criticism." 

These  are  the  principal  writers  of  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century.  It  does  not  seem  requisite  to 
enumerate  any  later  authors. 

ON  THE  PRAYER  BOOK. 

Read  first  the  '•  History  of  the  Prayer-Book"  by 
the  C.  K.  Society.  This  is  a  small  volume,  contain- 
ing a  useful  addition  to  Church  History. 

Shepherd  "on  the  Common  Prayer;" 

Wheatley's  "  Illustration  of  Common  Prayer  ;" 

Nelson's  "  Companion  for  the  Fasts  and  Festi- 
vals;" and 

Mant  "  on  the  Liturgy,"  are  all  standard  works. 

On  "  The  Rubrics  and  Canons  of  the  Church,"  a 
work  much  recommended,  was  written  in  1753,  by 
Thomas  Sharp. 

"  Lectures  and  Sermons  on  the  Liturgy"  have  been 
published  by  Bishop  Jebb,  2  vols.  8vo.,  1830  ;  Thomas 
Rogers,  2  vols.  Svo. ;  Bishop  J.  Bird  Sumner,  8vo. 
(more  particularly  on  the  Fasts  and  Festivals) ;  Mat- 
thew Hale,  4  vols.  8vo,  1838,  a  new  edition ;  and 
others. 

Bishop  Taylor's  "  Apology  for  the  Liturgy,"  He- 
ber  considered  among  the  best  of  Taylor's  Polemical 
Discourses. 

Bishop  Nicholson's  work  on  the  Catechism  has 
been  lately  republished. 

One  of  the  most  compendious  and  useful  books  of 
reference,  to  those  who  would  purchase  one  only  on 
this  and  most  other  ecclesiastical  matters,  is  the  Rev. 
J.  E.  Riddle's  "  Ecclesiastical  Chronology,  or  An- 
nals of  the  Church,"  containing  History,  the  relations 
of  the  Church  to  the  State;  controversies,  sects, 
rites,  discipline,  writers. 

On  the  Church  of  England,  besides  the  above, 

Bishop  Jewell's  famous  "  Apology  for  the  Church 
of  England."  written  in  Latin,  and  translated  by  the 
mother  of  Sir  Francis  Bacon,  is  considered  to  have 
promoted  the  Reformation  more  than  any  other  book. 
This,  with  Hooker's  "  Polity,"  Burnet's  "  Articles," 
and  Nicholson  "  On  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer." 
are  considered  unexceptionable  expositions  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Church  of  England. 

As  to  the  Sermons,  exhortations  and  addresses  to 
the  feelings,  they  are  abundantly  suppUed  from  our 
pulpits,  and  by  the  list  of  works  which  I  shall  pre- 
sently recommend  for  the  closet.  For  real  instruc- 
tion, 

"The  Bampton  Lectures." 

"  The  Hulsean  Lectures," 

"The  100  Sermons  of  the  Sunday  Library,"  by 
Heber,  Seeker,  Blomfield,  Home,  Horsley,  Maltby, 
8 


Mant,  Sumner,  Robert  Hall,  Chalmers,  and  others ; 

Arnold's  "  Sermons  at  Rugby  School ;" 

"  Heber's  Sermons ;" 
arc  all  standard  works,  affording  ample  scope  for 
every  choice  ;  so  that  after  the  many  old  writers 
already  recommended,  I  may  be  spared  the  invidious 
and  very  difficult  task  of  specifying  what  hving  au- 
thors deserve  a  preference. 

For  general  theological  reading — 

"  The  Library  of  the  Fathers  ;" 

"  Anglo-Catholic  Theology  ;" 

"  The  Theological  Library  ;" 

"  The  Enghshman's  Library  ;" 

"  The  Christian's  Family  Library  ;" 
are  series  of  pubHcations  containing  valuable  reprints 
of  old  Standard  Divinity,  with  some  original  compo- 
sition. 

Lastly,  as  to  Practical  Works,  or  Books  for  the 
Closet,  Mr.  Bickersteth  remarks,  that  "  it  would  be 
well  for  authors  to  consider  to  what  books  God  has 
given  the  most  influence  in  producing  extensively  a 
spirit  of  religion.  If  I  were  to  name  twelve  works  in 
our  own  language,  I  should  name  the  following: — 

Adams's  Private  Thoughts, 

Alleine's  Alarm, 

Baxter's  Call, 

Saint's  Rest, 

Beveridge's  Private  Thoughts, 

Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress, 

Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progress, 

Hervcy's  Theron  and  Aspasio, 

Law's  Serious  Call, 

Milner's  History  of  the  Church, 

Scott's  Force  of  Truth, 

Wilberforce's  Practical  View. 

I  have  requested  many  of  my  clerical  friends  to 
mention  works  of  the  same  kind,  and  have  invariably 
found  most  of  their  favourite  authors  in  this  list. 

Bunyan,  Doddridge,  and  Wilberforce  are  most  true 
to  nature.  Of  Doddridge  a  late  edition  has  a  valua- 
ble essay  by  John  Forster. 

Home's  "  Introduction,"  Bickersteth's  "  Chris- 
tian Student,"  and  Messrs.  Longman's  "  Classified 
Catalogue,"  will  render  any  further  assistance  that 
the  Biblical  student  can  require. 

ON  THE  STUDY  OF  POETRY.--CRITI- 
CISM.— TASTE. 

"Johnson's  Lives  of  the  Poets"  will  be  a  hand- 
book or  guide  to  the  poets.' 

Of  Chaucer  few  read  more  than  one  or  two  tales 
as  a  specimen.2 

Sprn^er^  will  improve  taste — an  author  whom 
men  of  deep  poetic  leeling  fondly  read,  and  others 
distantly  admire. 

Shakspeare  no  one  should  every  cease  reading : 
begin  with  the  tragedies. 

Cowley,  Waller,  Philips,  Parnell,  Rowe,  Prior, 
Gay,  Green,  Tickell,  Somerville,  Swift,  Collins, 
Dyer,  Churchill,  Akenside,  Lyttleton,  Armstrong, 
J.  Warton,  T.  Warton,  Mason,  Beattie,  are  authors 
of  whom  those  of  limited  opportunities  may  be  con- 
tented to  read  such  parts  only  as  Johnson  or  other 
critics  point  out.* 


'  Johnson's  Lives  of  the  Poets,  2  vols.     Phila. 

2  Chaucer's  Works,  a  new  edition,  in  1  vol.  Svo. 
E.  Moxon,  London. 

3  Spenser's  Works,  a  beautiful  edition,  in  5  vols. 
Svo.     Little  &  Brown,  Boston. 

^  The  British  Poets,  complete,  edited  by  Robert 
Walsh,  .50  vols.  18mo.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

The  Poets  and  Poetry  of  England,  of  the  19th 
Century,  with  selections  from  75  Poets,  and  biogra- 
phical notices,  by  Rufus  W.  Griswold,  1  vol.  8vo, 
with  seven  beautiful  illustrations,  price  $3.50.  Carey 
&  Hart.  Philadelphia. 

The  Poets  and  Poetry  of  America,  with  bio- 
graphicajj  notices  by  Rufus  W.  Griswold,  beautifully 


58 


A  COURSE   OF   ENGLISH  READING. 


Of  Millou,  to  read  "Paradise  Lost"  is  the  duty 
of  all — the  pleasure  of  a  few.  Fuseli  thought  the 
second  book  the  grandest  effort  of  tlie  human  inind. 
All  the  minor  works  are  better  known  than  "  Para- 
disc  Regained." 

Oi  Dnjltn,  "Alexander's  Feast"  is  one  of  the 
most  popular  lyric  odes.  His  "Fables,"  "Annus 
Mirabilis"  and  "  Translation  of  Virgil"  arc  the  most 
celebrated.  Dryden  is  considered  to  evince  more 
strength  and  real  poetry  with  less  smoothness  than 
Pope.  Bolingbroke  admired  his  prose  writing.  Mack- 
intosh thought  "  The  Cock  and  the  Fo.\"  Dryden's 
best  poem. 

Of  Addison,  read  the  "  Cato"  and  Psalm  xxiii. 

Of  Pope,  the  "  Rape  of  the  Lock"  is  the  best  of 
all  heroi-comical  poems  ;  "  Eloisa  to  Abelard"  is  the 
most  immoral  and  impious  poem  ever  sanctioned  ; 
most  unworthy  of  the  author  of  the  "  Messiah,"  which 
should  be  learned  by  heart  and  compared  with  Isaiah 
and  Virgil.  The  "  Essay  on  Criticism"  and  "  Dun- 
ciad"  show  that  Pope  could  write  as  strong  lines  as 
any  writer.  Of  the  "  Essay  on  Man"  the  argument 
was  written  by  Bolingbroke,  and  versified  by  Pope. 

Of  Thomson,  all  admire  the  sensibility  and  natural 
beauty  of  "The  Seasons."  He  had  not  the  art  of 
giving  effect  with  a  few  touches.  His  "  Castle  of  In- 
dolence" shows  more  genius,  though  less  known. 

Of  Shenstone,  Gray  said,  "He  goes  hopping  along 
his  own  gravel  walk,  and  never  deviates  from  the 
beaten  track,  for  fear  of  being  lost."  "  The  School- 
mistress" is  one  of  the  best  imitations  of  Spenser. 

Oi  Young,  "The  Night  Thoughts"  hold  a  high 
place  among  devotional  poetry.  Most  of  the  literary 
world  read  part,  few  read  all:  which,  indeed,  may 
almost  be  said  of  Milton,  for  reasons  given  in  John- 
son's "  Life  of  Milton." 

Of  Gray,  the  "Elegy"  and  "Ode  to  Eton  Col- 
lege," are  best  known.  Of  the  rest  of  his  odes.  Sir 
J.  Mackintosh  truly  said,  "  They  are  most  pleasing 
to  the  artist  who  looks  to  structure."  And  again, 
"  To  those  who  are  capable  of  that  intense  applica- 
tion, which  the  higher  order  of  poetry  requires,  and 
which  poetical  sympathy  always  produces,  there  is  no 
obscurity." 

Of  Goldsmith,  "  The  Deserted  Village,"  ne.\t  to 
Gray's  "  Elegy,"  is  the  most  popular  piece  of  English 
poetry.     The  other  poems  are  much  read. 

Of  Johnson,  "London,"  and  "The  Vanity  of 
Human  Wishes,"  much  admired  by  Byron,  every 
scholar  should  compare  with  the  third  and  tenth  satires 
of  Juvenal.  His  prologue,  spoken  by  Garrick  in  1747, 
is  very  good. 

Of  Cou-per,  "  The  Task"  is  considered  the  master- 
piece. All  his  poeins  are  much  read,  especially  Ale.K- 
ander  Selkirk,  John  Gilpin,  and  all  the  smaller 
pieces.  Cowper,  like  Euripides,  was  remarkable  for 
reconciling  poetical  sentiment  with  the  language  of 
common  life.  He  may  be  considered  the  first  of  the 
school  of  Wordsworth.  His  letters  are  equal  to  any. 
Few  poets  have  had  more  readers  than  Cowper.  The 
public  say  of  poetry  as  cottagers  of  religious  tracts, 
"  We  like  sotnething  with  a  tale  in  it." 

Of  later  writers  Wordsworth  is  admired  by  all  his 
brother  poets.  See  Coleridge's  "  Biographia  Litera- 
ria."  Read  "  The  E.xcursion."  Crahbe's  "  Phoelie 
Dawson"  was  read  to  Fo.x  on  his  death-bed.  Of  the 
"  Borough"  Mackintosh  said,  what  Pitt  observed  of 
Sir  W.  Scott's  "Minstrel,"  "I  acknowledge  his 
unparalleled  power  of  painting." 

Of  Coleridge,  Scott  said,  translation  was  his  forte. 
He  translated  Wallenstein  from  manuscript,  and 
Schiller  adopted  and  printed  some  of  Coleridge's  de- 


illustrated.     1  vol.  8vo,  price  $3.     Carey  &  Hart, 
Philadelphia. 

The  Poets  and  Poetry  of  Eukofe,  with  notices 
of  the  authors  and  translations  from  the  Anglo-Saxon, 
Dutch,  Italian,  Icelandic,  German,  Spanish,  Swed- 
ish, French,  Portuguese,  (fcc,  with  a  history  of  their 
literature  from  the  earliest  times,  by  Henry  \y.  Long- 
fellow, 1  vol.  750  pages.    Carey  &  Hart,  Pftila. 


viations.  The  "  Ancient  Mariner,"  composed  during 
an  evening  walk  with  Wordsworth,  as  well  as  his 
"  Christabel,"  are  very  celebrated.  Mackintosh  said 
Coleridge's  "talents  were  below  his  understanding; 
he  had  never  matured  his  ideas,  so  as  to  express  them 
with  clearness  and  order."  In  other  words,  Coleridge, 
like  Shelley  and  others  of  the  same  sciiool,  often  failed 
in  the  single  step  which  would  have  attained  to  the 
sublime,  and  therefore  their  writings  seem  to  remain 
in  the  regions  of  the  ridiculous.  Burns,  Byron, 
Moore,  Southey,  Sir  W.  Scott,  Rogers,  L.  E.  L. 
(Letitia  Elizabeth  Landon),  Heber,  Milman,  Keats, 
Shelley,  James  Montgomery,  are  names  which  I  need 
only  mention.  The  reader  may  easily  learn  the 
names  of  the  best  pieces  of  each;  and  when  he  thinks 
he  knows  their  several  styles,  then  he  may  read  with 
interest  the  "Rejected  Addresses,"  and  try  how 
many  of  the  supposed  authors  he  can  identify.  Alfred 
Tennyson  is  the  poet  of  the  present  day. 

0?i  Taste.— Read  Burke  "  On  the  Sublime  and 
Beautiful,"  Alison  "  On  Taste,"  the  principles  of 
which  were  espoused  by  Stewart  and  Jefl'rey  ;  but 
see  Burns'  Letters  (Lett.  CC).  Read  the  critical 
articles  in  the  Edinburgh  and  Quarterly-'  Hallam 
recommends  the  papers  in  Blackwood  on  Spenser,  by 
Professor  Wilson. ^  Read  Coleridge's  criticism  of 
Wordsworth  in  his  "Biographia  Literaria."  The 
reviews  of  Wordsworth.  Johnson's  "Lives  of  the 
Poets;"  his  criticism  of  Gray  is  termed  by  Mackin- 
tosh "  a  monstrous  example  of  critical  injustice  ;"  he 
adds,  "he  was  unjust  to  Prior,  because  he  had  no 
feeling  of  the  lively  and  the  graceful."  Sir  Jamesjustly 
maintained  that  "  there  is  a  poetical  sensibihiy  which, 
in  the  progress  of  the  mind,  becomes  as  distinct  a 
power,  as  a  musical  ear  or  a  picturesque  eye,"  which 
sensibility  Johnson  had  not.  The  author  of  Rasselas 
certainly  had  a  talent  for  poetry,  and  so  Sir  James  him- 
self was  "  not  wanting  in  imagery,"  said  Robert  Hall, 
"  but  it  was  acquired  and  imported,  not  native  to  his 
mind."  The  essay  in  Black  wood  on  Btirn.s's  poetry,  by 
Carlyle,  was  strongly  recommended  by  Mrs.  Hemans. 
Read  also  the  papers  on  Milton  in  the  Spectator. 
Lastly,  study  attentively  poems  of  different  degrees  of 
merit ;  compare  odes,  blank  verse,  the  different 
measures  of  Pope  and  Spenser,  Scott,  and  others,  and 
consider  which  are  best  suited  to  the  English  language, 
what  poet  excels  in  each ;  then  confirm  or  correct 
your  own  opinions  by  those  of  reputed  critics.  I  have 
also  known  much  improvement  conveyed  by  a  few 
hours'  reading  with  a  tutor  of  good  taste.  Coleridge, 
high  as  were  his  natural  endowments,  ascribed  much 
of  his  proficiency  to  school  lessons  in  criticism  from 
Dr.  Bowyer  at  Christ's  Hospital. 

Since  the  method  of  studying  all  subjects  is  nearly 
the  same,  I  may  now  conclude  with  works  on  Natural 
Philosophy,  and  (-ommon-place  Books. 

Herschel's  "  Preliminary  Discourse,"  Paley's 
' '  Natural  Theology,"  and  the  Bridgewater  Treatises, 
will  each  and  all  tend  to  a  general  knowledge  of 
science.  Lardner's  treatises  will  teach  Astronomy, 
Mechanics,  Hi/draiilics  and  Hydrostatics,  Pneumatics, 
and  Optics.'^  Mrs.  Somerville's  "  Connection  of  the 
Physical  Sciences,"  was  written  to  render  science 
accessible  to  her  countrywomen.  Arnot's  "  Physics"^ 

'  Critical  Articles  in  the  Edinburgh  ano 
Quarterly  Reviews  and  Blackwood's  Maga- 
zine. A  selection  of  all  the  most  valuable  papers  in 
the  above,  from  the  commencement  to  the  present 
time,  has  been  made  and  published  by  Carey  &  Hart, 
in  the  Modern  British  Essayists.  Amongst  authors 
whose  works  will  be  found  in  the  series,  are 
Macaulay,  Mackintosh,         Milman, 

Sydney  .Smith,  Jeflrey,  Heber, 

Sir  W.  Scott,  Hallam,  Prof  Wilson, 

A.  Alison,  Lockhart,  Gifl^ord, 

Talfourd,  Stephens,  &c.  &c. 

2  The  Noctes  Ambrosiana  of  Blackwood.  4  vols, 
price  S4..50.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

^Lardnf.r's  Astronomy.  1vol.  Arnot's  Physics. 
1  vol.    Both  published  by  Lea  &  Blanchard,  Phila. 


A  COURSE  OF  ENGLISH   READING. 


59 


is  simple  and  instructive.  On  Botany,  Mrs.  Horry's 
"  Opuscule  for  Beginners  of  all  Ages,"  removes  very 
many  of  the  old  difficulties  ;  the  object  being  to  teach 
the  principles  of  the  science  in  the  most  common 
words.  On  Chemistry,  "  Chemistry  no  Mystery," 
by  Scoffern,  with  one  of  Palmer's  chemical  chests, 
&c.,  will  furnish  implements  for  a  few  shillings,  and 
thus  you  may  teach  yourself  all  necessary  e.xpei  iments 
in  a  few  evenings.  The  works  of  Brande,  Donovan, 
and  Graham'  may  then,  and  not  till  tiicn,  be  useful. 
Lardner  on  the  "Steam-Engine,"-  Brewster  on 
"Magnetism,"  Phillips  on  "Geology,"  and  other 
treatises,  simple  or  technical,  elementary  or  abstruse, 
will  be  found  in  Messrs.  Longman's  "Classified 
Catalogue."  Indeed  every  part  of  science  has  of 
late  been  treated  in  a  way  easy  and  intelligible  to 
"men,  women,  and  children." 

Lastly,  keep  a  Common-place  Book.  Procure 
"  The  improved  Common-place  Book  on  the  plan  of 
Locke."  The  preface  contains  instructions.  This 
Common-place  Booli,  I  would  advise  students  to  use 
as  a  day-book,  and  to  keep  a  common  ruled  book  of 
300  or  400  pages  as  a  ledger.  The  day-book  should 
contain  an  analysis  of  every  book  that  is  read,  to  aid 
the  natural  defects  of  memory,  not  to  supersede  it ; 
that  is,  we  should  enter  time,  place,  and  persons,  and 
little  facts,  when,  and  only  when,  we  can  trust  our 
memory  with  the  chief  part  of  the  narrative.  The 
entry  should  resemble  the  summary  we  find  in  books. 

'  Graham's  Chemistry.  1vol.  Lea&Blanchard, 
Philadelphia. 

The  ENCTCLOPiEDiA  OF  Chemistry,  by  Booth  & 
Boye,  now  in  course  of  publication.  Several  Nos. 
have  already  appeared — to  be  completed  in  twenty 
Nos.  at  25  cts.  each.     Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 

^  Lardxer  on  the  Steam-Engine.  1  vol.  §1.50. 
Carey  &  Hart,  Philadelphia. 


We  may  also  enter  original  thoughts  in  order  as  they 
arise.  Then  the  ledger  should  be  a  book  of  topics  in 
which  every  subject  of  interest  may  luive  a  page  or 
two  assigned  it,  tor  the  purpose  of  cliissifyinji  the  con- 
tents of  the  Common-place  or  Day  Hook.  To  show 
the  advantage  of  this,  I  will  copy  iVoni  my  own  book 
one  of  the  i)ages  in  which  I  have  long  stored  up  any 
casual  notice  and  recommendation  of  authors  to  deter- 
mine my  choice  of  reading. 

"  Authors  recommended  and  characterized 

"  Read  '  Collingwood's  letter  on  Trafalgar,'  cp.  2. 
(i.  e.  Common-place  Book,  page  2),  and  Hutchinson 
'  On  Alexandria,'  cp.  8.  Burke's  opinion  of  Montes- 
quieu, cp.  14,  and  of  Voltaire,  of  Murphy's  Transla- 
tion and  '  Ossian,'  cp.  14.  The  prose  of  Dryden, 
Shaftesbury,  and  Hooker  characterised,  cp.  27.  What 
Neibuhr  and  what  Pitt  considered  the  desiderata  of 
literature,  cp.  175.  Gent.  Mag.  for  1"47,  about 
HogEEus.  Miss  Austin's  'Pride  and  Prejudice,'  Scott 
thought  unequalled,  cp.  31.  Adolphus's  Letters  to 
Heber.  '  New  Monthly'  for  1822,  about  National 
Gallery.  '  On  India  and  Hindoos,'  read  W^ard'sbook. 
Swift's  letters  better  than  Pope's,  cp.  150.  Read 
Cowper's  letters.  Mackintosh's  opinion  of  Hume's 
History,  cp.  38.  Edinb.  No.  XLT.  2d  article  by 
Mackintosh.  Canning's  eulogy  of  Chalmers's  'Ser- 
mons,' cp.  257.  Gray's  opinion  of  Froissart ;  whic'n 
was  admired  by  Hemans,  as  also  Paul  and  Virginia, 
cp.  54." 

I  have  now  said  as  much  as  can  be  useful,  and  per- 
haps more,  and  shall  conclude  with  observing  that, 
however  imperfect  this  little  work  may  be,  any  young 
person  of  ordinary  understanding  who  will  follow  the 
advice  it  contains  for  one  or  two  hours  a  day,  will  soon 
acquire  such  habits  of  .reflection  and  general  kqow- 
ledge  as  will  greatly  increase  the  pleasure  both  of  his 
solitary  and  his  social  hours. 


THE  END. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 
STEREOTYPED   BY   L.  JOHNSON. 


[  1 26  Chcsmii  street,  Philadelphia. 

CAREY   8l    HART'S    NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


THE     MODERN    ESSAYISTS, 

AT  LESS  THAN  HALF  PRICE. 


The  great  success  that  hag  attended  the  publication  of 
the  Modern  Essayists,  comprisiuir  the  Critical  and  Miscel- 
laneous writings  of  the  most  distinguished  authors  of  mo- 
dern times,  has  induced  the  publishers  to  issue  a  new, 
revised,  and  very  clieap  edition,  with  finely  enjrraved  Por- 
traits of  the  authors  ;  and  while  they  have  added  to  the 
series  the  writings  of  several  distinguished  authors,  they 
have  reduced  the  price  more  than  one  half! 

The  writings  of  each  author  will  be  comprised  in  a  sin- 
gle octavo  volume,  well  printed  from  new  type,  on  fine, 
white  paper,  manufactured  expressly  for  this  edition. 

The  series  will  contain  all  the  most  able  papers  that  have 
ever  appeared  in  The  Edinburgh  Review,  The  Londun  Quar- 
terly Rerieic,  and  Blackwood's  Magazine,  and  may  indeed  be 
called  the  cream  of  those  publications. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  mention  the  names  of  those  au- 
thors whose  writings  will  appear  : 


T.  Babington  Macaulay, 
Archibald  Alison, 
Rev.  Si/dneij  Smith, 
Professor  JVilson, 
James  Stephen, 
J.  Wilson  Croker, 
Robert  Snuthey, 
fViltiam  Hazlitt, 


Sir  Walter  Scott, 
Lord  Jeffrey, 
Sir  James  Mackintosh 
T.  JVoon  Talfourd, 
J.  O.  Lockhart, 
William  Oifford, 
Thomas  Carlyle, 
Henry  Hallam. 


The  popularity  of  tne  authors,  and  the  extreme  modera- 
tion of  the  price,  recommend  them 

To  Heads  of  Families,  for  their  children,  as  perfect  mo- 
dels of  style. 

To  Managers  of  Book  Societies,  Book  Clubs,  &c. 

To  School  Inspectors,  Schoolmasters,  and  Tutors,  as 
suitable  gifts  as  prizes,  or  adapted  for  School  Libraries. 

Travellers  on  a  Journey  will  find  in  these  portable  and 
cheap  volumes  something  to  read  on  the  road,  adapted  to 
fill  a  corner  in  a  portmanteau  or  carpet-bag. 

To  Passengers  on  Board  a  Ship,  here  are  ample  materials 
in  a  narrow  compass  for  whiling  away  the  monotonous 
hours  of  a  sea  voyage. 

To  Oflicers  in  the  Army  and  Navy,  and  to  all  Economists 
in  space  or  pocket,  who,  having  limited  chambers,  and 
small  book-shelves,  desire  to  lay  up  for  themselves  a  con- 
centrated Library,  at  a  moderate  expenditure. 

To  all  who  have  Friends  in  Distant  Countries,  as  an  ac- 
ceptable present  to  send  out  to  them. 

The  Modern  Essayists  will  yield  to  the  Settler  in  the 
Backwoods  of  America,  the  most  valuable  and  interesting 
writings  of  all  the  most  distinguished  authors  of  our  time, 
at  less  than  one  quarter  the  price  they  could  be  obtained  in 
any  other  form. 

The  Student  and  Lover  of  Literature  at  Home,  who  has 
hitherto  been  compelled  to  wade  through  volumes  of  Re- 
views for  a  single  article,  may  now  become  possessed  of 
every  article  worth  reading,  for  little  more  than  the  cost  of  the 
annual  subscription. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  a  very  able  article  on 
Mr.  Macaulay,  by  Mr.  E.  P.  Whipple  : 

"  It  is  impossible  to  cast  even  a  careless  glance  over  the 
literature  of  the  last  thirty  years,  without  perceiving  the 
prominent  station  occupied  by  critics,  reviewers  and  essay- 
ists. Criticism  in  the  old  days  of  Monthly  Reviews  and  Gen- 
tlemen's Magazines,  was  quite  an  humble  occupation,  and 
was  chiefly  monopolized  by  the  '  barren  rascals"  of  letters, 
who  scribbled,  sinned  and  starved  in  attics  and  cellars ;  but 
it  has  since  been  almost  exalted  into  a  creative  an,  and 
numbers  among  its  professors  some  of  the  most  accom- 
plished writers  of  the  age.  Dennis,  Rhymer,  Winstanley, 
Theophilus  Cibber,  Griffiths,  and  other  'eminent  hands,'  as 
well  as  the  nameless  contributors  to  defunct  periodicals  and 
deceased  pamphlets,  have  departed,  body  and  soul,  and  left 
not  a  wreck  behind;  and  their  places  have  been  supplied 
by  such  men  as  Coleridge,  Carlyle,  Macaulay,  Lamb,  Haz- 
litt, Jeffrey,  Wilson,  Giftbrd,  Mackintosh,  Sydney  Smith, 
Ilallam,  Campbell,  Talfourd  and  Brougham.  Indeed  every 
celebrated  writer  of  the  present  century,  without,  it  is  be- 
lieved, a  solitary  exception,  has  dabbled  or  excelled  in  criti- 
cism. It  has  been  the  road  to  fame  and  profit,  and  has  com- 
manded both  applause  and  guineas,  when  the  unfortunate 
objects  of  it  have  been  blessed  with  neither.  Many  of  the 
strongest  minds  of  the  age  will  leave  no  other  record  be- 
hind them,  than  critical  essays  and  popular  speeches.  To 
those  who  have  made  criticism  a  business,  it  has  led  to 
success  in  other  professions.  The  Edinburgh  Review, 
which  took  the  lead  in  the  establishment  of  the  new  order 
of  things,  was  projected  in  a  lofty  attic  by  two  briefless 
barristers  and  a  titheless  parson  ;  the  former  are  now  lords, 
and  the  latter  is  a  snug  prebendary,  rejoicing  in  the  reputa- 


tion of  being  the  finest  wit  and  smartest  divine  of  the  age. 
That  celebrated  journal  made  reviewing  more  respectable 
than  authorship.  It  was  started  at  a  time  when  the  de- 
generacy of  literature  demanded  a  radical  reform,  and  a 
sharp  vein  of  criticism.  Its  contributors  were  men  who 
possessed  talents  and  information,  and  so  far  held  a  slight 
advantage  over  most  of  those  they  reviewed,  who  did  not 
happen  to  possess  either.  Grub  Street  quarterly  quaked  to 
its  foundations,  as  the  northern  comet  shot  its  portentous 
glare  into  the  dark  alleys,  where  bathos  and  puerility  buzzed 
and  hived.  The  citizens  of  Brussels,  on  the  night  previous 
to  Waterloo,  were  hardly  more  terror-struck  than  the  vast 
array  of  fated  authors  who,  every  three  months,  waited  the 
appearance  of  the  baleful  luminary,  and,  starting  at  every  i 
sound  which  betokened  its  arrival, 
'  Whispered  with  white  lips,  the  foe  !  it  comes  !  it  comes!' 

"  In  the  early  and  palmy  days  of  the  Review,  when  re- 
viewers were  wits  and  writers  were  hacks,  the  shore  of  the 
great  ocean  of  books  was  '  heaped  with  the  damned  like 
pebbles.'  Like  an  'eagle  in  a  dovecote,'  it  fluttered  the 
leaves  of  the  Minerva  press,  and  stifled  the  weak  notes  of 
imbecile  elegance,  and  the  dull  croak  of  insipid  vulgarity, 
learned  ignorance,  and  pompous  humility.  The  descent  of 
Attila  on  the  Roman  Empire  was  not  a  more  awful  visita- 
tion to  the  Italians,  th;in  the  'fell  swoop'  of  the  Edinburgh 
Review  on  the  degenerate  denizens  of  Grub  Street  and  Pa- 
ternoster Row.  It  carried  ruin  and  devastation  wherever 
it  went,  and  in  most  cases  it  carried  those  severe  but  pro- 
vidential dispensations  to  the  right  places,  and  made  havoc 
consistent  both  with  political  and  poetic  justice.  The  Edin- 
burgh reviewers  were  found  not  to  be  of  the  old  school  of 
critics.  They  were  not  contented  with  the  humble  task  of 
chronicling  the  appearance  of  books,  and  meekly  condens- 
ing their  weak  contents  for  the  edification  of  lazy  heads  ; 
but  when  they  deigned  to  read  and  analyze  the  work  they 
judged,  they  sought  rather  for  opportunities  to  display  their 
own  wit  and  knowledge  than  to  flatter  the  vanity  of  the 
author,  or  to  increase  his  readers.  Many  of  their  most 
splendid  articles  were  essays  rather  than  reviews.  The 
writer,  whose  work  aftVtrded  the  name  of  the  subject,  was 
summarily  disposed  of  in  a  quiet  sneer,  a  terse  sarcasm,  or 
a  faint  iianegyric,  and  the  remainder  of  the  article  hardly 
recognised  his  existence.  It  is  to  these  purely  original  con- 
tributions, written  by  men  of  the  first  order  of  talent,  that 
the  Review  owes  most  of  its  reputation." 

The  North  American  Review  remarks  : 

"  We  have  intimated  our  high  opinion  of  the  value  of  the 
essaysanddisquisitions  with  which  British  Periodical  litera- 
ture is  now  so  amply  filled.  An  eminent  publishing  house 
in  Philadelphia  has  very  wisely  undertaken  to  reprint  these, 
and  to  give  them  a  general  circulation  in  the  United 
States." 

CRITICAL      AND      MISCELLANEOUS 

WRITINGS  of  THOMAS  BABINGTON  MACAULAY. 

in  one  volume,  with  a  finely  engraved  Portrait,  ftrom       ] 
an  original  picture  by  Henry  Inman. 


CONTENTS. 


Milton, 

Machiavelli, 

Dryden, 

History, 

Hallam's  Constitutional  His- 
tory, 

Southey's  Colloquies  on  So- 
ciety, 

Moore's  Life  of  Byron, 

Southey's  Bunyan's  Pil- 
grim's Progress, 

Croker's  Boswell's  Life  of 
Johnson, 

Lord  Nugent's  Memoirs  of 
Hampden, 

Nares's  Memoirs  of  Lord 
Burghley, 

Dumont's  Recollections  of 
Mirabeau, 

Lord  Mahon's  War  of  The 
Succession, 

Walpole's  Letters  to  Sir  H. 
Mann, 

Thackaray's  History  of  Earl 
Chatham, 

Earl  Chatham,  2d  part. 

Lord  Bacon, 


Mackintosh's  History  of  the 

Revolution  of  England, 
Sir  John  Malcolm's  Life  of 

Lord  Clive, 
Life  and  Writings  of  Sir  W. 

Temple, 
Church  and  State, 
Ranke's  History  of  the  Popes, 
Cowley  and  Milton, 
Mitford's  History  of  Greece, 
The   Athenian   Orators, 
Comic  Dramatists  of  the  Re- 
storation, 
Lord  Holland, 
Warren  Hastings, 
Frederic  the  Great, 
Lays  of  Ancient  Rome, 
Madame  D'Arblay, 
Addison, 

Bar6re's  Memoirs, 
Montgomery's  Poems, 
Civil  Disabilities  of  the  Jews, 
Mill  on  Government, 
Bentham's  Defence  of  Mill, 
Utilitarian   Theory   of   Go- 
vernment. 


A   remittance   of   FIVE    DOLLARS   will    pay  for  tUe    ESSAYS    of    MACAUliAT,    AlilSODT, 
SYDNEY  SMITH,  and  PROFESSOR  AVILSOIV,  full  boTUid  in  clotli  and  gilt. 


CAREY  &   HART'S  NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


.There  probably  never  waa  a  series  of  articles  communi- 
cated to  a  periodical,  which  can  challenge  comparison  with 
those  of  Macaulay,  for  artistic  merit.  They  are  character- 
ized by  many  of  the  qualities  of  heart  and  mind  which 
stamp  the  productions  of  an  Edinburgh  reviewer ;  but  in 
the  combination  of  various  excellences  they  far  excel  the 
finest  efforts  of  the  class.  As  nimble  and  as  concise  in  wit 
as  Sydney  Smith  ;  an  eye  quick  to  seize  all  those  delicate 
refinements  of  lanpuaee  and  happy  turns  of  expression, 
which  charm  us  in  Jeffrey  ;  displaying  much  of  the  impe- 
rious scorn,  passionate  strength  and  swelling  diction  of 
Brougham  ;  as  brilliant  and  !is  acute  in  critical  dissection 
as  Hazlitt,  without  the  unsoundness  of  mind  which  disfi- 
gures the  finest  compositions  of  that  remarkable  nian  ;  at 
times  evincing  a  critical  judgment  which  would  not  dis- 
grace the  stern  gravity  of  Hallani,  and  a  range  of  thought 
and  knowledge  which  remind  us  of  Mackinto.sh,— Macaulay 
seems  to  be  the  abstract  and  epitome  of  the  whole  journal, 
—seems  the  utmost  that  an  Edinburgh  reviewer  "can 
come  to."  He  delights  every  one— hi2h  or  low,  intelligent 
or  ignorant.  His  spice  is  of  so  keen  a  flavour  that  it  tickles 
the  coarsest  palate.  He  has  the  unhesitating  suffrages  of 
men  of  taste,  and  the  plaudits  of  the  million.  The  man 
who  has  a  common  knowledge  of  the  English  language, 
and  the  scholar  who  has  mastered  its  refinements,  seem 
equally  sensible  to  the  charm  of  his  diction.  No  matter 
how  unpromising  the  subject  on  which  he  writes  may  ap- 
pear to  the  common  eye,  in  his  hands  it  is  made  pleasing. 
Statistics,  history,  biography,  political  economy,  all  suffer 
a  transformation  into  "something  rich  and  strange."  Pro- 
saists are  made  to  love  poetry,  tory  politicians  to  sympa- 
thize with  Hampden  and  Milton,  and  novel-readers  to  ob- 
tain some  idea  of  Bacon  and  his  philosophy.  The  won- 
derful clearness,  point,  and  vigour  of  his  style,  send  his 
thoughts  right  into  every  brain.  Indeed,  a  person  who  is 
utterly  insensible  to  the  witchery  of  Macaulay's  diction, 
must  be  eitjier  a  Yahoo  or  a  beatified  intelligence. 

CRITICAL  AND  MISCELLANEOUS 
WRITINGS  of  ARCHIBALD  ALISON,  Author  of 
"The  History  of  Europe,"  in  one  volume,  8vo,  with  a 
Portrait."    Price  $1.50. 


CONTENTS. 


Military  Treason  and  Civic 
Soldiers, 

Mirabeau, 

Bulwer's  Athens, 

The  Reign  of  Terror, 

The  French  Revolution  of 
1830, 

The  Fall  of  Turkey, 

The  Spanish  Revolution  of 
1820, 

Karamsin's  Russia, 

Effects  of  the  French  Revo- 
lution of  1830, 

Desertion  of  Portugal, 

Wellington, 

Carlist  Struggle  in  Spain, 

The  Affghanistan  Expedition, 

The  Future,  &c.  &c. 


Chateaubriand, 

Napoleon, 

Bossuet, 

Poland, 

Madame  de  Stael, 

National  Monuments, 

Marshal  Ney, 

Robert  Bruce, 

Paris  in  1814, 

The  Louvre  in  1814, 

Tyrol, 

France  in  1833, 

Italy, 

Scott,  Campbell  and  Byron, 

Schools  of  Design, 

Lamartine, 

The  Copyright  Question, 

Michelet's  France, 

Arnold's  Rome, 

RECREATIONS      OF     CHRISTOPHER 

NORTH,   (John  Wil.son,)  in  one  volume,  8vo,  with  a 
Portrait.     Price  One  Dollar. 


THE  WORKS  OF  THE   REV.  SYDNEY 

SMITH,  in  one  volume,  with  a  Portrait.    Price  One 
Dollar. 


CONTENTS. 


Mid-day, 

Sacred  Poetry, 

Christopher  in  his  Aviary, 

Dr.  Kitchiner, 

Soliloquy  on  the  Seasons, 

A  Few  Words  on  Thomson, 

The     Snowball    Bicker    of 

Piedmont, 
Christmas  Dreams, 
Our  Winter  Qiwrters, 
Stroll  to  Grassmere, 
L'Envoy. 


Christopher  in  his  Sporting 

Jacket, 
A  Tale  of  Expiation, 
Morning  Monologue, 
The  Field  of  Flowers, 
Cottages, 

An  Hour'sTalkaboutPoetry, 
Inch  Cruin, 
A  Day  at  Windermere, 
The  Moors, 

Highland  Snow-Storm, 
The  Holy  Child, 
Our  Parish, 

"And  not  less  for  that  wonderful  series  of  articles  by 
Wilson,  in  Blackwood's  Magazine— in  their  kind  as  truly 
amazing  and  as  truly  glorious  as  the  romances  of  Scott  or  the 
poetry  of  Wordsworth.  Far  and  wide  and  much  as  these 
papers  have  been  admired,  wherever  the  English  language 
is  read,  I  still  question  whether  any  one  man  has  a  just  idea 
of  them  as  a  whole." — Extract  from  Howitfs  "  Rural  Life." 

"The  outpo\iring  of  a  gifted,  a  tutored,  and  an  exuberant 
mind,  on  men  and  manners — literature,  science,  and  philo- 
sophy— and  all  embued  by  the  peculiar  phases  of  that  mind, 
whether  viewed  in  the  "light  of  humour,  wit,  sentiment, 
pathos,  fancy  or  imasination." — Literary  Gazette. 

"  A  blaze  of  dazzling  liL'ht  which  literally  blinds  us,  while 
the  tumult  that  its  perusal  causes  within  us,  makes  us  per- 
fectly helpless.'' — Cambridge  Chronicle. 
2 


Dr.  Parr, 

Dr.  Rennel, 

John  Bowles, 

l)r   Langford, 

Archdeacon  Nares, 

Matthew  Lewis, 

Australia, 

Fi^vce's  Letters  on  England, 

Rdgeworth  on  Bulls, 

Trimmer  and  Lancaster, 

Parnell  and  Ireland, 

Methodism, 

Indian  Missions, 

Catholics, 

Methodism, 

Hannah  More, 

Professional  Education, 

Female  Education, 

Public  Schools, 

Toleration, 

Charles  Fox, 

Mad  Quakers, 

America, 

Game  Laws, 

Botany  Bay, 

Chimney  Sweepers, 

America, 

Ireland, 

Spring  Guns, 

Observations  on  the  Histori- 
cal Work  of  the  Right 
Honourable  Charles  James 
Fox, 

Disturbances  of  Madras, 

Bishop  of  Lincoln's  Charge, 

Madame  d'Epinay, 

Poor  Laws, 

Public  Characters  of  1801-2, 

Anastasius, 

Scarlett's  Poor  Bill, 

Memoirs  of  Captain  Rock, 

Granby, 

Island  of  Ceylon, 

Delphine, 

Mission  to  Ashantee, 

Witman's  Travels, 

Speech  on  Catholic  Claims, 

Speech  at  the  Taunton  Re- 
form Meeting, 

Speech  at  Taunton  at  a  Meet- 
ing to  celebrate  the  Acces- 
sion of  King  William  IV., 

Persecuting  Bishops, 


Speech  at  Taunton  in  1831  on 
the  Reform  Bill  not  being 
passed. 

Prisons, 

Prisons, 

Botany  Bay, 

Game  Laws, 

Cruel  Treatment  of  untried 
Prisoners, 

America, 

Bentham  on  Fallacies, 

Waterton, 

Man  Traps  and  Spring  Guns, 

Hamilton's  Method  of  teach- 
ing Languages, 

Counsel  for  Prisoners, 

Catholics, 

Neckar's  Last  Views, 

Catteau,  Tableau  des  Etats 
Danois, 

Thoughts  on  the  Residence 
of  the  Clergy, 

Travels  from  Palestine, 

Letter  on  the  Curates'  Salary 
Bill, 

Proceedings  of  the  Society 
for  the  Suppression  of 
Vice, 

Characters  of  Fox, 

Speech  respectinir  the  Re- 
form Bill, 

The  Ballot, 

First  Letter  to  Archdeacon 
Singleton, 

Second  Letter  to  Archdeacon 
Singleton, 

Third  I,etter  to  Archdeacon 
Singleton, 

Letter  on  the  Character  of 
Sir  James  Mackintosh, 

Letter  to  Lord  John  Russell, 

Sermon  on  the  Duties  of  the 
Queen, 

The  Lawyer  that  tempted 
Christ :  a  Sermon, 

The  Judge  that  smites  con- 
trary to  the  Law  :  a  Ser- 
mon, 

A  letter  to  the  Electors  upon 
the  Catholic  Question, 

A  Sermon  on  the  Rules  of 
Christian  Charity, 

Peter  Plymley's  Letters. 


"  Almost  every  thing  he  has  written  is  so  characteristic, 
that  it  would  be  difficult  to  attribute  it  to  any  other  man. 
"The  marked  individual  features  and  the  rare  combination 
of  powers  displayed  in  his  works,  give  them  a  fascination 
unconnected  with  the  subject  of  which  he  treats  or  the 
general  correctness  of  his  views.  He  sometimes  hits  the 
mark  in  the  white,  he  sometimes  misses  it  altogether  ;  for 
he  by  no  means  confines  his  pen  to  themes  to  which  he  is 
calculated  to  do  justice  ;  but  whether  he  hits  or  misses,  he 
is  always  sparkling  and  delightful.  The  charm  of  his 
writings'  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  Montaigne  or 
Charles  Lamb." — JVorth  American  Review. 


CRITICAL   WRITINGS    OF    FRANCIS      I 
JEFFRE"?,  in  one  8vo  volume,  with  a  Portrait. 

"It  is  a  book  not  to  be  read  only,  but  studied.  It  is  a 
vast  repertory,  or  rather  a  system  or  institute,  embracing 
the  whole  circle  of  letters— if  we  except  the  exact  sciences 
—and  contains  within  itself,  not  in  a  desultory  form,  but 
in  a  well-digested  scheme,  more  original  conception,  bold 
and  fearless  speculation  and  just  reasoning  on  all  kinds  and 
varieties  of  subjects,  than  are  to  be  found  in  any  English 
writer  with  whom  we  are  acquainted  within  the  present  or 
the  last  generation.  ....  His  choice  of  words  is  unbounded, 
and  his  felicity  of  expression,  to  the  most  impalpable  shade 
of  discrimination, almost  miraculous.  Playful, lively, and  full 
of  illustration,  no  subject  is  so  dull  or  so  dry  that  he  cannot 
invest  it  with  interest,  and  none  so  trifling  that  it  cannot 
acquire  dignity  and  elegance  from  his  pencil.  Independent- 
ly, however,  of  mere  style,  and  apart  from  the  great  variety 
of  subjects  embraced  by  his  pen,  the  distinguishing  feature 
of  his  writings,  and  that  in  which  he  excels  bis  contempo- 
rary reviewers,  is  the  deep  vein  of  practical  thought  which 
runs  throughout  them  all."— JVortA  British  Review. 


CAREY   &,   HART'S    NEW   PUBLICATIONS 


CRITICAL    WRITINGS    OF  T.    NOON 

TALFOURD  and  JAMES  STEPHEN,  in  one  volume, 

8vo. 
"His  (Talfourd's)  critical  writings  manifest  in  every 
page  a  sincere,  earnest,  and  sympathizing  love  of  intellec- 
tual excellence  and  moral  beauty.  The  kindliness  of  tem- 
per and  tenderness  of  sentiment  with  which  they  are  ani- 
mated are  continually  suggesting  pleasant  thoughts  of  the 
author." — JVortli  American  Reciew. 

THE  CRITICAL  WRITINGS  OF  SIR 
WALTER  SCOTT,  complete  in  one  volume,  8vo, 
with  a  Portrait. 
We  have  spent  a  whole  day  in  the  society  of  his  mighty 
spirit,  and  felt  no  sensation  of  weariness  ;  we  read  till  mid- 
night, and  reluctantly  laid  the  volumes  aside  in  obedience 
to  our  pained  and  heavy  eyelids.  We  were  ill,  but  illness 
could  not  keep  us  away  from  the  Magician ;  for  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning  we  were  up  with  the — no,  not  the  lark,  but 
the  milk-man,  and  again  intent  upon  these  treasures  of  in- 
struction and  delight.  We  can  master  your  ordinary  two 
volume  American  novel  in  three  hours,  by  a  stop-watch ; 
but  here  we  have  only  got  through  with  these  Miscellanies 
after  three  days'  constant  reading!  Some  of  the  papers  we 
had  read  before;  but  what  of  that ■?  They  were  none  the 
less  charming, — we  should  as  soon  think  of  getting  wearied 
with  the  sight  of  a  river,  winding  at  its  ovi^n  sweet  will.'  " 

[JVeaj  World. 

SIR  JAMES  MACKINTOSH'S  CON- 
TRIBUTIONS   TO   THE    EDINBURGH   REVIEW. 

Collected  and  edited  by  his  Son.  In  one  volume,  8vo, 
with  a  Portrait. 

SELECTIONS    FROM    THE    LONDON 

QUARTERLY  REVIEW.  Being  the  best  articles  that 
haye  appeared  in  that  able  periodical,  which  numbers 
among  its  contributors, 

Southey,  Wilson  Croker,  Lockhart, 

Hallam,  GifTord,  Heber, 

Milman,  Scott,  &c.  &c. 

In  one  volume,  8vo,  with  a  fine  Portrait  of  J.  G.  Lock- 
hart. 

MODERN  FRENCH  ESSAYISTS. 

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THE    HISTORICAL    ESSAYS, 

Published    under   the    title    of    "Ten    Years'    Historical 
Studies,  and  Narratives  of  the  Merovingian   Era.  or 
Scenes  of  the  Sixth  Century,"  by  M.  Augustin  Thierry, 
author  of  "The  Conquest  of  England  by  the  Normans." 
Complete  in  one  volume. 
"But  those  who  wish  to  appreciate  Thierry's  powers 
must  judge  him,  not  by  the  'Conquete,'  but  by  his  recent 
'Recits  dc  Temps  Merovivgiens,'  in  which  we  have  a  narra- 
tive uniting  Walter  Scott's  liveliness  of  detail  and  dra- 
matic effect,  with  the  observance  of  historical  truth."— 
London  Quarterly  Review. 

"The  '  Narrative  of  the  Merovingian  Era'  is  the  produc- 
tion of  the  mature  and  practised  hand  of  its  author,  it  is 
essentially  a  work  of  art,  though  important  ideas  relative 
to  the  science  of  history  are  implied  in  it.  As  a  portraiture 
of  the  sixth  century,  it  is  unequalled:  it  joins  the  pic- 
turesqueness,  animation  and  exciting  interest  of  a  novel  by 
Scott,  to  the  minute  tidelity  of  e.\haustive  erudition."— 
British,  and  Foreign  Review. 

HISTORICAL  ESSAYS  of  M.  Sismondi.  1  vol.  8vo,  with 
a  Portrait. 

MISCELLANEOUS  WRITINGS  of  M.  Michelet.  1vol. 
8vo,  with  a  Portrait. 

CRITICAL  AND  HISTORICAL  ESSAYS,  by  M.  de  Cha- 
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HISTORICAL  ESSAYS,  by  M.  Girardin. 

HISTORY    OF  THE  ANGLO-SAXONS, 

From  the  earliest  period  to  the  Norman  Conquest.     By 
Sharon  Turner,  author  of  "  The  Sacred  History  of  the 
World."     In  two  volumes,  8vo,  cloth  gilt.    Price  re- 
duced to  $4.50. 
"  This  edition  is  an  exact  reprint  of  the  London  edition, 
and  contains  all  the  Saxon  language,  the  type  of  which  was 
cast  expres.^ly  for  it.     The  French  edition,  of  which  a  con- 
siderable number  have  been  imported  into  this  country,  does 
not  contain  a  single  word  of  Saxon. — Boston  Morning  Post. 


POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  EUROPE, 

with    Biographical    Notices    and    Translations,    from 

the  earliest  period  to  the  present  time,  by  Henry  W. 

Longfellow.     In  one   large   8vo  volume,   750  pages. 

Illustrated. 
The  above  volume  contains  translations  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon,  Icelandic,  Swedish,  Danish,  Dutch,  German,  Polish. 
French,  Italian,  Spanish,  Portuguese,  Sec.  &c. 

POETS  AND   POETRY  OF   ENGLAND, 

In   the   Nineteenth  Century,  by  Rufus   W.  Griswold. 
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tions.    Price  $3.50. 
This  volume  contains  Biographical  and  Critical  Notices 
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Wordsworth,   Shelley,    Keats,    Coleridge,   Campbell,  and 
others  well  known  in  America,  contains  the  most  admirable 
productions  of  Wilson,  Landor,  Barry  Cornwall,  Tennyson, 
Milnes,  Hood,  Barrett,  and  all  the  younger  poets  now  at- 
tracting attention  in  England,  and  as  yet  unpublished  in 
this  country.    With  a  great  deal  that  is  familiar,  it  undoubt- 
edly embraces  as  much  that  is  new  to  the  great   mass  of 
readers  as  any  book  of  the  season. 

POETS  AND   POETRY   OF  AMERICA, 

By  R^ifus  W.  Griswold.    Si.xth  edition.    In  one  volume, 
Svo,  ivith  Portraits  of  Dana,  Bryant,  Sprague,  Halleck, 
and  Lonjfellow,  and  many  other  beautiful  Illustratione. 
Price  S3. 
Of  the  Poets  and  Poetry  of  America,  it  is  scarcely  ne- 
cessary for  the  publishers  to  speak,  as  it  has  already  passed 
into  a  Sixth  Edition— Oi  the  Poets  and  Po|;try  of  Eng- 
land just  issued,  they  may  be  allowed  to  state  that  it  con- 
tains selections  front  the  works  of  many  delightful  Poets 
but  little  known  in  this  country,  but  who  "only  require  to  be 
known  to  be  admired.     The  Volume  by  Mr.  Longfellow 
will  probably  be  the  most  interesting  of  the  series,  as  it 
contains  translations  from  all  the  distinguished  Poets  of  TEN 
different  countries,  with  a  complete  history  of  their  litera- 
ture from  the  earliest  times. 

CAREY  &  HART  will  shortly  publish 

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THE  PROSE  WRITERS  of  GERMANY  and  their 
Works,  by  F.  11.  Hedge,  in  one  volume,  8vo,  with  Por- 
traits. 

THE  PROSE  WRITERS  of  ENGLAND,  FRANCE, 
ITALY,  &c.,  and  their  Works,  in  two  volumes,  Svo, 
with  Portraits. 

Tliiers's  History  of  the  Frencli  Revolution— 
Tlie  Consulate  and  tlie  Empire. 

HISTORYOFTHE  FRENCH  REVOLU- 
TION. By  M.  A.  Thiers.  In  two  large  octavo  volumes, 
of  upward.*  of  1800  pages.  Price  reduced  to 
$1.25,  being  the  cheapest  book  ever  published. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CONSULATE  AND 

THE  EJIPIRE  of  NAPOLEON.  By  M.  A.  Thiers. 
Being  the  Completion  of  his  History  of  the  French  Revo- 
lution, now  publishing  in  Numbers  at  12^  cents  each,  to 
be  completed  in  ten'  Numbers.  A  remittance  of  one 
dollar  will  pay  for  the  complete  work. 

SIR   WALTER   SCOTT'S    COMPLETE 

WORKS,  in  10  volumes,  Svo,  comprising 
The  Waverley  Novels,  Lives  of  the  Novelists, 

Life  of  Napoleon,  Letters   on  Demonology  and 

Poetical  Works,  Witchcraft,  &c., 

And  the  Life  of  Scott,  by  Lockhart. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR  IN  THE 

PENINSULA,  AND  IN  THE  SOUTH  OF  FRANCE, 
from  the  year  1S07  to  the  year  1814.  By  Col.  W.  F.  P. 
Napier,  C.  B.  Carefullv  reprinted  from  the  fourth  edi- 
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to  $6.50. 

THE   LIFE  OF  LORENZO  DE  MEDICI, 

Called  the  Magnificent.  By  William  Roscoe,  Esq.  A 
new  edition,  in  two  volumes,  Svo,  with  an  Appendix 
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PATRICK,    LOWTH    AND    WHITBY'S 

COMMENTARIES.     Now  ready,  Num!)eis  40  and  11, 

Price    25    cents    each,    of  T  HE    11  O  1,  Y    1!  I  li  I.  E, 

with  Dishop  Patrick's  Commentary  on  tlie  Historical, 

and  Paraphrase  of  the  Poetical  Books  of  the  Old  'IVs- 

tament.     Bishop  Lowth  on  the  Prophets.     Arnald  on 

the  Apocrypha.    Whithy  on  the  Gospels  and  Epistles, 

and  Lownian  on  tlie  Revelation. 

In  the   previous   editions  of  this  work,  the  Annotations 

were  printed  without  the  Text,  thus  rendcrinc;  it  a  mere 

book  of  reference  for  the  study ;  ire  this  edition  the  text  is 

placed  at  the  head  of  each  parre,  thus  adapting  it  for  general 

use  both  in  the  Family  and  Closet. 

The  work  is  well  printed  from  new  type  on  pood  paper, 
and  is  in  every  respect  equal  if  not  superior  to  the  English 
edition,  and  will  be  completed  in  sizty  numbers,  at  ticentr/- 
five  cents  each. 

To  those  who  may  be  unacquainted  with  the  excellencies 
of  this  Commentary  and  Paraphrase,  it  may  be  necessary 
to  state  that 

Bishop  Patiiick,  whose  commentary  includes  from 
Genesis  to  the  Song  of  Solomon,  is  esteemed  amon;;  theo- 
logical writers,  one  of  the  most  acute  and  sensible,  and 
therefore  useful  illustrators  of  the  Old  Testament.  "In 
his  Exposition,"  says  Dr.  Wotton,  in  his  Thoughts  con- 
cerning the  Study  of  Divinity,  "there  is  great  learning, 
and  great  variety," and  what  will  save  the  reading  of  many 
volumes." 

Du.  Lowth,  the  father  of  the  well-known  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, completed  the  Old  Testament,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  most  judicious  Commentators  on  the  Prophets.  Few 
men  were  more  deeply  versed  in  critical  learning,  there 
being  scarcely  any  author,  Greek  or  Latin,  profane  or  eccle- 
siastical, that  Dr.  Lowth  hath  not  read,  constantly  accom- 
panying his  reading  with  critical  and  philosophical  re- 
marks; he  adheres  strictly  to  the  literal  meaning  of  the  in- 
spired writer,  and  there  is  not  a  great  appearance  of  criti- 
cism, but  the  original  texts  and  all  critical  aids  are  closely 
studied  by  this  most  learned  divine.  Bishop  Watson  pro- 
nounced Lowth's  to  be  the  best  commentary  on  the  Prophets 
in  the  English  language. 

Arn.^ld  on  the  Apocrypha. — The  Apocryphal  Books 
of  the  Old  Testament,  though  not  a  part  of  the  inspired 
writings,  contain  much  historical  information,  and  are  use- 
ful for  illustrating  the  idiom  of  the  New  Testament.  Ar- 
nald's  is  a  Critical  Commentary  on  such  hooks  of  the  Apo- 
crypha as  are  appointed  to  be  read  in  churches.  The  work 
was  originally  published  at  different  times,  and  is  deserved- 
ly held  in  high  estimation.  Archbishop  Cranmer,  in  the 
Preface  to  his  Bible,  says,  "that  men  may  read  them  (the 
Books  of  the  Apocrypha)  to  the  edifying  of  the  people,  but 
not  to  confirm  and  strengtlun  the  doctrines  of  the  church." 
Dr.  Whitdv  on  the  Gospels  and  Epistle.s.— The 
Commentary  on  the  New  Testament  is  by  Dr.  Whitby, 
who,  in  the  course  of  his  work,  exhibits  labour  and  research 
worthy  of  the  subject.  Few  men  have  brought  a  larger 
portion  of  sagacity,  and  a  larger  measure  of  appropriate 
learning,  on  the  Interpretatiofi  of  Scripture.  His  know- 
ledge of  the  Bible  itself  was  thorough  and  complete,  and 
his  acquaintance  with  the  writings  of  the  fathers  and  of 
modern  interpreters  was  profound.  On  a  dillicult  text  or 
expression,  the  reader  will  seldom  consult  him  in  vain.  Dr. 
Adam  Clarke,  in  the  learned  Preface  to  his  Commentary, 
says,  "The  best  comment  on  the  New  Testament,  taken  in 
all  points  of  view,  is  certainly  that  of  Whitby.  He  has 
done  all  that  should  be  done  ;  he  is  learned,  argumentative, 
and  thoroughly  orthodox." 

Low.MAN  ON  the  REVELATION.— Bishop  Tomliue  in- 
cludes this  work  in  his  List  of  Books  for  Clergymen  and 
Biblical  Students.  Dr.  Doddridge  has  said  of  it,  that  he 
"has  received  more  satisfaction  from  it,  with  respect  to 
many  difficulties,  than  he  ever  found  elsewhere,  or  expected 
to  find  at  all."  Lowman's  scheme  of  the  Seven  Seals  is 
also  approved  by  the  late  Rev.  David  Simpson,  in  his  Key 
to  the  Prophecies. 

(O-  The  reader  will  thus  see,  from  the  authorities  cited  in 
this  brief  view,  that  the  learned  writings  of  Patrick,  Lowth, 
Arnald,  Whitby  and  Lowman,  form  a  perfect  and  invaluable 
series  of  Enirlish  Commentaries  on  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
taments, and  on  the  books  of  the  Apocrypha. 

THE  WORKS  OF  LORD  BACON, 
With    a  Memoir,  and  a  Translation  of  his  Latin   Writ- 
ings, by  Basil  Montagu,  Esq.,  in  three  volumes,  Svo. 
Price  reduced  to  §7.50. 

The  American  edition  of  the  works  of  Lord  Bacon  now 
offered  to  the  public,  is  reprinted  from  the  most  approved 
English  edition,  that  of  Basil  Montagu,  Esq..  which  has  re- 
cently issued  from  the  celebrated  press  of  Pickering,  (the 
modern  Aldus,)  in  seventeen  octavo  volumes.  It  contains 
the  complete  works  of  the  illustrious  philosopher,  those  in 
iMtin  being  translated  into  English.  In  order  to  render  the 
publication  cheap,  and  therefore  attainable  by  all  our  pub- 
lic and  social  libraries,  as  well  as  by  those  general  readers 
who  study  economy,  the  seventeen  octavo  volumes  have 
been  comprised  in  three  volumes,  imperial  octavo. 


THE   AMERICAN    FARMER'S    ENCY- 

CLOP.l^Dl  A.:in(l  DICTIONARY  of  UllKAL  AFFAIRS, 
emiiraciug   all   the-  recMit  dl.sc()\'erii;s   in    .Agricultural 
Chemistry.     By  Cuthbert  W.  Johnson.     EnlariTd,  im- 
proved, aiid  adapted  to  the  TJiiiled  States,  by  fJoverneur 
Emerson.     This  invaluable  work  is  now  cojiipleted  in 
one  splendid  royal  octavo  volume,  of  upwards  of  1150 
closely  printed  pages,  with  .=oveiiteen  iienulifully  exe- 
cuted Plates  of  Cattle,  Agricultural  !mplempnl.«.  Varie- 
ties of  Grasses.  Destructive  Insects,  &c.,  and  numerous 
Wood-cuts.    Price,  well  bound  in  leather,  only  .$4.00. 
"For  the  product,  manner  of  cultivation,  and  value  of 
these,  I  refer  you  to  the  Journals  already  mentioned,  as 
well  as  to  a  work  recently  published,  which  I  take  pleasure 
in  reconnncnding  as  a  School  Book  and  suitable  iireminm  to 
be  given  by  Agricultural  Societies— The  Fauimkh's  Encv- 
CLOP/EDIA,  by  Cuthbert  W.  Johnson,  adiipted  to  the  United 
Slates   by  Governeur   Emerson — a  work  with  which,  on 
examination,  1  am  so  well  impressed  as  to  consider  it  enti- 
tled to  an  easily  accessible  place  in  the  library  of  every 
enlightened   agriculturist.    In   that  work  it  is  stated  that 
an  acre  of  cranberries,  in  full  bearing,  will   produce  200 
bu.'iheis,  and  the  price  is  seldom  less  than  $'1.50  per  bushel, 
and  sometimes  double  that." — Extract  from  an  address  de- 
livered by  J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq. 

The  only  Complete  Frencli  Dictionary. 

A  NEW  AND  COMPLETE  FRENCH 
AND  ENGLISH,  AND  ENGLISH  AND  FRENCH 
DICTIONARY,  on  the  basis  of  The  Royal  Dictionary, 
English  and  French,  and  French  and  English,  compiled 
from  the  Dictionaries  of  Johnson,  Todd,  Ash,  Webster, 
and  Crabbe.  From  the  last  edition  of  Chambaud, 
Garner,  and  J.  Descarrieres,  the  sixth  edition  of  the 
Academy,  the  supplement  to  the  Academy,  the  Gram- 
matical Dictionary  of  Laveaux,  the  Universal  Lexicon 
of  Boiste,  and  the  Standard  Technological  Works  in 
cither  Language.  By  Professors  Fleming  and  Tibbins. 
With  complete  Tables  of  the  Verba,  on  an  entirely  new 
Plan.  By  Charles  Picot,  Esq.  To  the  whole  are  added, 
in  their  respective  places,  a  vast  number  of  terms  in 
Natural  Science,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  which  are  not  to  be 
found  in  any  other  French  and  Eni'lish  Dictionary. 
In  one  splendid  royal  octavo  volume,  1376  pages.  Prica 
.S4.00.     Well  bound  in  leather. 

LORD    BOLINGBROKE'S    WORKS, 

Complete,  with  a  Life,  prepared  expressly  for  this  edi- 
tion, containing  recent  information  relative  to  his  per- 
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piper  covers.  Carey  &  Hart  also  publish  a  fine  edition 
in  4  volumes,  cloth  gilt,  which  has  been  reduced  to  $(5. 

A  NEW  AND  GREATLY  IMPROVED  EDITION  OF 

THE  UNIVERSAL  ATLAS, 

By  Henry  S.  Tanner,  containing  72  superbly  engraved 
Maps,  imperial  quarto  size,  elegantly  and  accurately 
coloured  :  comprising  all  the  recent  Canal  and  Railroad 
Improvements  throughout  the  United  States.  Price 
reduced  to  $14.00,  bound  in  full  clo'th,  leather  backs. 

This  edition  has  undergone  a  complete  revision  by  its 
able  author,  within  the  last  three  months,  and  the  publish- 
ers can  safely  pronounce  it  not  only  the  most  splendid,  but 
the  most  accurate  and  complete  jltlas  that  has  ever  appeared 
in  this,  or  in  fact  in  any,  country. 

Mr.  Tanner's  reputation  as  a  Geographer  is  so  well  esta- 
blished, that  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing  in  his 
praise  ;  but  the  publishers  cannot  refrain  from  stating,  that 
in  this,  his  latest  work,  he  has  produced  one  that  reflects  on 
him  the  highest  honour. 

RURAL    LIFE   OF    ENGLAND. 

By  William  Ilowitt,  author  of  "Visits  to  Remarkable 
Places,"  In  one  vol.  Svo.  Price  reduced  to  $2.00. — 
with  a  finely  engraved  Frontispiece. 

STUDENT    LIFE   OF   GERMANY. 

By  William  Howitt,  author  of  "  The  Rural  life  of  Eng- 
land," "Book  of  the  Seasons,"  &c.  Containing 
nearly  forty  of  the  most  famous  Student  Songs.  Beau- 
tifully printed  in  one  volume,  Svo.  Price  reduced  to 
•SI.  50. 

VISITS    TO    REMARKABLE     PLACES, 

Old  Halls,  Battle-Fields,  and  scenes  illustrative  of 
striking  Passages  in  English  History  and  Poetry.  By 
William  Ilowitt.  In  two  volumes,  900  pages,  Svo,  beau- 
tifully printed  on  fine  paper,  cloth  gilt,  §3.00. 

A  TOUR    IN    THE    EAST, 
THE    HOLY    LAND,  &c.      By  E.  Joy   Morris.      In  two 
volumes,  12mo,  with  Engravings.    Price  $1.50. 


CAREY   &   HART'S   NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


THE  WAVERLEY   NOVELS 

COMPLETE   FOR  $2.50. 
3340  Pages  for  Two  Dollars  and  a  half. 
CAREY  &  HART,  will  shortly  publish  a  new  edilion  ot 
The  Waverloy  Novels,  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  with  all  the 
author's  btest  notes  and  adilitioiis,  complete,  without 
the  slightest  abridgment,  in  jive  royal  Svo  volumes,  up- 
wards of  650  pages  in  each  volume,  for  two  dollars  and  a 
half. 
Waverley,  St.  Ronan's  Well, 

Guv  Mannerine,  Red?auntlet, 

The  Antiquarv,  The  Betrothed. 

Rob  Roy,  The  Talisman, 

Black  Dwarf,  Woodstock, 

Old  Mortality,  The  Highland  Widow, 

Heart  of  Mid-Lothian,  Two  Drovers, 

Bride  of  Lammernioor,  My  Aunt  Margaret's  Mirror. 

Legend  of  Montro.se,  Tlie  Tapestried  Chamber, 

Ivanhoe,  The  Laird's  Jock, 

The  Monastery,  Fair  M;iid  of  Perth, 

The  Abbot,  Anne  of  Gierstein, 

Kenilworth,  Count  Robert  of  Paris, 

The  Pirate,  Castle  Dangerous, 

Fortunes  of  Niiel,  The  Surgeon's  Daughter, 

Peveril  of  the  Peak,  Olossary. 

Quentin  Durward, 

The  object  of  the  publishers  in  thus  reducing  the  price 
of  the  Waverley  Novels,  is  to  endeavour  to  give  them  a 
greatly  extended  circulation  ;  and  they  have,  therefore,  put 
them  at  a  price  which  brings  them  within  the  reach  of  every 
fatnily  in  the  country.  There  is  now  no  fireside  that  need 
be  without  a  copy  of  the  most  charming  works  of  fiction  ever 
issued  from  the  press  :  for  there  is  no  one  that  can't  afford 
two  dollars  and  a  half— two  dollars  and  a  half  for  twenty- 
five  of  Sir  Walter  Scott's  Novel? !  ten  cents  for  a  complete 
Novel'.;  ten  cents  for  "Ivanhoe."  which  was  origin:illy 
published  at  a  guinea  and  a  halflll  It  seems  impossible, 
and  yet  it  is  true.  In  no  other  way  can  the  same  amount 
of  amusement  and  instruction  be  obtained  for  ten  times  the 
money,  for  the  Waverley  Novels  alone  form  a  Library. 

The  publishers  wish  it  to  he  distinctly  understood,  that, 
while  the  price  is  so  greatly  reduced,  the  work  is  in  no  way 
abridged,  but  is  carefully  printed  from,  and  contains 

EVEUy  WORD    IN,  THE    LAST   EDINBURGH  EDITION,  in  forty- 

eight  volumes,  which  sells  for  seventy-two  dollars. 

Now  is  the  time  to  b\iy  !  Such  an  opportunily  may  never 
again  occur.  Let  every  one,  then,  who  wants  a  set  of  the 
Waverley  JVovels  for  two  dollars  and  a  half,  now  purchase, 
for  ifthe  publishers  do  not  lind  the  sale  greatly  incrensed, 
by  the  immense  red\iction  in  price,  they  will  resume  the  old 
price  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each  Novel,  which  was  con- 
sidered wonderfully  cheap. 

THE    LIFE   OF    LORD    ELDON. 

With  Selections  from  his  Correspondence.  By  Horace 
Twiss,  Esq.,  Q.  C.  In  two  volumes,  Svo,  850  pages. 
Cloth  gilt.  Price  S3.50. 
"The  Life  of  Lord  Eldon  is  an  important  addition  to  pub- 
lic biography.  Written  by  a  lawyer,  it  has  the  advantage 
of  professional  knowledge — by  a  man  of  a  certain  expe- 
rience in  public  and  even  in  official  life,  it  exhibits  that 
practical  knowledge  of  affairs  which  nothing  but  a  practice 
can  gain.  The  three  volumes  exhibit  a  research  which 
does  much  credit  to  the  intelligence  and  industry  of  Mr. 
Twiss,  their  author.  They  abound  in  capital  anecdotes, 
but  few  of  which  we  have  been  able  to  give — possess  pas- 
sages of  very  effective  writing — and  form  a  work  which 
ought  to  be  in  the  library  of  every  lawyer,  statesman,  and 
English  gentleman." — Blackwood's  Magazine,  .^Siigust,  1814. 

LIFE   AND   TIMES    OF    RICHARD    III. 

By  Caroline  A.  Halsted.    In  one  volume,  Svo.     Price 

$1.50. 
"Miss  Halsted  deserves  great  credit  for  her  laborious  at- 
tempt to  vindicate  Richard's  character,  and  for  the  patient 
care  with  which  she  has  sought  out  and  marshalled  her 
authorities.  Although  we  may  not  believe  Richard  to  have 
been  quite  so  blameless  as  she  attempts  to  prove  him,  we 
willingly  allow  that  his  real  character  inas  widely  different 
from  that  which  tradition  and  Tudor  history  hare  assigned  to 
him. — London  Athenaium. 

The  Burney  Papers. 

DIARY   AND    LETTERS   OF   MADAME 
D'ARBLAY. 

"This  publication  will  take  its  place  in  the  libraries  be- 
side Walpole  and  Boswell." — Literary  Oaiette. 

"A  work  unequalled  in  literary  and  social  value  by  any 
thing  else  of  a  similar  kind  in  the  language."— AOiijai  and 
Military  Oazette. 


GEORGE  SELWYN  AND  HIS  CON- 
TEMPORARIES. By  G.  Heneage  Jesse.  In  one 
volume,  Svo. 

In  this  volume  will  be  found  letters  from  the  famous 
Lord  March,  Lord  Carlisle,  Lord  Holland.  Charles  James 
Fox,  General  Fitzpatrick,  Lord  Chesterfield,  Lord  Town- 
send,  Madame  Du  Deffand,  Lady  Di  Beauclerk,  Horace 
Walpole,  The  Gunnings,  &c.  &c.  «fcc. 

A    TREATISE   ON  THE    LAW   OF    NISI 

PRIUS,  EVIDENCE  in  CIVIL  ACTIONS,  and  AR- 
BITRATIONS and  AWARDS.  By  A.  J.  Stephens, 
Esq.,  Barrister  at  Law.  With  Notes  and  References  to 
American  Decisions,  by  George  Sharswood.  In  three 
royal  Svo  volumes,  containing  upwards  of  3000  pages. 
Price  only  §15,  well  bound. 

It  is  believed  that  this  will  be  found  a  far  more  complete 
and  comprehensive  work  on  the  subject  than  any  in  exist- 
ence. The  following  is  the  preface. — The  object  of  these 
piges  is  to  supply  the  legal  profession  with  a  Practical 
Treatise,  not  only  upon  the  Law  of  Nisi  Prius,  but  also 
upon  the  subjects  of  Evidence  in  Civil  Actions,  and  Arbi- 
tration and  Award. 
Chancellor  Kent,  in  a  letter  to  the  publishers,  remarks  : 
"1  have  run  over  the  principal  articles  in  tlie  two  vol- 
umes, and  I  think  the  work  is  ably,  judiciously,  and,  indeed, 
admirably  digested  and  e.xecuted.  I  do  not  know  of  any 
work  on  Nisi  Prius  Law  equal  to  it,  and  I  am  sure  it  must 
meet  with  the  universal  use  and  patronage  of  the  profes- 
sion. It  is  printed  in  fine  style,  both  as  to  paper  and  type, 
and  does  credit  to  your  enterprise  and  taste." 

THOMAS'S    COKE. 

A    systematic    arrangement  of  Lord   Coke's  First  In- 

.STITUTE  OF  THE  LaWS  OF  ENGLAND,  On  the  plan  of 
Sir  Matthew  Hale's  Analysis ;  with  the  annotations 
of  Mr.  Hargrave,  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hale,  and  Lord 
Chancellor  Nottingham,  and  a  new  series  of  Notes  and 
References  to  the  present  time,  by  J.  H.  Thomas.  Se- 
cond American  from  the  last  London  edition.  To 
which  are  added  Notes  of  Charles  Butler,  Esq.  Three 
volumes  Svo. 


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